The tomato 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase gene SlF3HL is critical for chilling stress tolerance

Low temperature is a major stress that severely affects plant development, growth, distribution, and productivity. Here, we examined the function of a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase-encoding gene, SlF3HL, in chilling stress responses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Alisa Craig [AC]). Knockdown (KD) of SlF3HL (through RNA interference) in tomato led to increased sensitivity to chilling stress as indicated by elevated levels of electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the KD plants had decreased levels of proline and decreased activities of peroxisome and superoxide dismutase. The expression of four cold-responsive genes was substantially reduced in the KD plants. Furthermore, seedling growth was significantly greater in AC or SlF3HL-overexpression plants than in the KD plants under either normal growth conditions with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or chilling stress conditions. SlF3HL appears to positively regulate JA accumulation and the expression of JA biosynthetic and signaling genes under chilling stress. Together, these results suggest that SlF3HL is a positive regulator of chilling stress tolerance and functions in the chilling stress tolerance pathways, possibly by regulating JA biosynthesis, JA signaling, and ROS levels.