Overexpression of PpGL2 from Prunus persica enhanced soybean drought tolerance

The HD-ZIP transcription factor family plays crucial roles in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. While its diverse functions and regulatory mechanisms are well-documented, its role in conferring abiotic stress tolerance in peaches remains largely unexplored. Here, we report the bioinformatics profile of PpGL2, a member of the HD-ZIP transcription factor family, and its integration into the soybean genome to assess its potential impact on drought tolerance. Localization studies in onion cells revealed nuclear localization of PpGL2-GFP fusion protein, while yeast hybridization experiments demonstrated its transactivation and DNA binding abilities. PpGL2 overexpression under drought conditions led to reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde compared to wild-type, decreased water loss rate, and increased chlorophyll content and relative water content. Additionally, PpGL2 overexpression promoted plant height and root length under drought stress, accompanied by altered transcription levels of stress-related genes across different plant genotypes. Furthermore, PpGL2 overexpression enhanced oxidative tolerance. Therefore, our findings suggest that PpGL2 overexpression holds promise for enhancing soybean drought resistance, offering a novel approach to improving soybean drought resistance.