The overexpression of NCED results in waterlogging sensitivity in soybean

Soil waterlogging limits plant growth and has a major impact on agricultural productivity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the overexpression of the NCED gene improves waterlogging and reoxygenation tolerance in soybean plants. This was tested using a transgenic soybean line overexpressing the NCED gene (2Ha11) and the conventional cultivar BR5184 (wild-type; WT), which is the genetic background of the 2Ha11 line. Plants at vegetative (V6) and reproductive (R2) stages were exposed to waterlogging for 60 h and posterior reoxygenation for an additional 60 h. Overall, the NCED overexpression increased the levels of lipid peroxidation in plants exposed to waterlogging and posterior reoxygenation while decreased the antioxidant activity and alcohol dehydrogenase activity. In addition, NCED overexpression decreased seed weight and grain yield in the 2Ha11 line exposed to waterlogging at the reproductive stage. Taken together, these results suggest that the overexpression of NCED triggers an increased waterlogging sensitivity in soybean plants especially when they are exposed to waterlogging at the reproductive stage.

Automated summary

Soil waterlogging has a major impact on plant growth and agricultural productivity. This study found that overexpression of the NCED gene increases the sensitivity of soybean plants to waterlogging and reoxygenation, leading to increased lipid peroxidation levels, decreased antioxidant activity and alcohol dehydrogenase activity, as well as reduced seed weight and grain yield.