Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the growth adaptability and physiological response mechanisms of transgenic Populus simonii × P. nigra clones (with TaLEA, betA, and PsnWRKY70 genes) under cold and drought stress, to screen genotypes combining fast growth with high stress resistance, thereby providing candidate materials for poplar breeding in cold and arid regions of China.
Method An environmental release trial was established at Cuohai Forest Farm in Heilongjiang Province (cold-temperate, semi-arid climate). Field observations were conducted on 5-year-old transgenic lines and wild-type (WT) controls. Growth traits including tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), stem volume, and survival rate were measured. During the typical drought period, physiological indicators including malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and stomatal density were analyzed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparisons, and the membership function method were used for comprehensive evaluation and selection.
Result There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in tree height, DBH, volume, and survival rate among the tested clones. With a comprehensive evaluation value ≥ 0.70 as the screening threshold, 4 excellent clones were selected, including 3 PsnWRKY70 suppression expression clones (b23, b17, b15) and 1 TaLEA overexpression clone (XL-7). Among them, clone b23 performed the best, with a tree height of 6.14 m and a survival rate of 72.5%. Under drought conditions, clone b23 exhibited low MDA content, high SOD activity, low H2O2 accumulation, and low leaf stomatal density, showing strong resistance to oxidative stress and water retention capacity. Clone XL-7 also showed significantly better growth and stress resistance than the control.
Conclusion Suppressing PsnWRKY70 expression significantly enhance the field growth and survival ability of Populus simonii × Populus nigra in cold and arid conditions, primarily by boosting antioxidant capacity and cell membrane stability. The selected transgenic clones (b23, b17, b15, and XL-7), combining fast growth with high stress resistance, provide promising new germplasm for stress-resistant poplar breeding in cold, arid regions.