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Article|23 Feb 2024|OPEN
A natural variation in SlSCaBP8 promoter contributes to the loss of saline–alkaline tolerance during tomato improvement
Jian Liu1 ,† , Chi Zhang1 ,† , Heyao Sun1 ,† , Yinqiang Zang2 , Xianwen Meng2 , Huawei Zhai2 , Qian Chen3 , and Chuanyou Li,4 ,
1College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
2College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
3Beijing Key Laboratory for Agricultural Applications and New Techniques, Plant Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
4College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong 271018, China
*Corresponding author. E-mail: chenqiangenetics@163.com,cyli@genetics.ac.cn
†Jian Liu,Chi Zhang and Heyao Sun contributed equally to the study.

Horticulture Research 11,
Article number: uhae055 (2024)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae055
Views: 1432

Received: 06 Nov 2023
Accepted: 20 Feb 2024
Published online: 23 Feb 2024

Abstract

Saline–alkaline stress is a worldwide problem that threatens the growth and yield of crops. However, how crops adapt to saline–alkaline stress remains less studied. Here we show that saline–alkaline tolerance was compromised during tomato domestication and improvement, and a natural variation in the promoter of SlSCaBP8, an EF-hand Ca2+ binding protein, contributed to the loss of saline–alkaline tolerance during tomato improvement. The biochemical and genetic data showed that SlSCaBP8 is a positive regulator of saline–alkaline tolerance in tomato. The introgression line Pi-75, derived from a cross between wild Solanum pimpinellifolium LA1589 and cultivar E6203, containing the SlSCaBP8LA1589 locus, showed stronger saline–alkaline tolerance than E6203. Pi-75 and LA1589 also showed enhanced saline–alkaline-induced SlSCaBP8 expression than that of E6203. By sequence analysis, a natural variation was found in the promoter of SlSCaBP8 and the accessions with the wild haplotype showed enhanced saline–alkaline tolerance compared with the cultivar haplotype. Our studies clarify the mechanism of saline–alkaline tolerance conferred by SlSCaBP8 and provide an important natural variation in the promoter of SlSCaBP8 for tomato breeding.