Soy 14-3-3 protein SGF14c, a new regulator of tolerance to salt-alkali stress

The salt-alkali soil is one of the most important factors affecting soy growth and yield. In studies on soy salt-alkali tolerance, since past few decades ago, the detailed mechanisms for salt-alkali tolerance regulation have not been clarified. In this study, soy 14-3-3 protein, SGF14c, was found as a new regulator that might be involved in the regulation of salt-alkali tolerance. SGF14c was highly expressed in salt-alkali-tolerant soy varieties and induced to express in salt-alkali susceptible soy varieties treated with 200 mM NaCl for 6, 12, and 24 h. The overexpression plasmid of SGF14c was constructed and transfected into salt-alkali susceptible soy varieties. The salt-alkali tolerance, photosynthesis, and Na+ were increased by the overexpression of SGF14c in transgenic soy. In conclusion, SGF14c is a new regulator involved in the regulation of salt-alkali tolerance in soy plants, and its up-regulation increases salt-alkali tolerance, photosynthesis, and Na+.