Synthetic Strigolactone Regulates Some Stress Related Genes and Transcription Factors on Tomato (Lycopersium esculentum L.)

Türkiye meets about 7% of the world tomato production. The most severe effects of climate change are seen in agriculture. The increase of salinity in agricultural lands reduces the usable area and affects the growth, development and yield of the products grown. The salinity problem in the Iğdır Plain, which has a microclimate feature, causes the region to not be used at full capacity and to obtain sufficient yield from the products grown. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of synthetic strigolactone GR24-rac against salinity at the gene level in H-2274 tomato cultivar grown under saline conditions for the first time. In the experiments carried out for this purpose, the effects GR24-rac applied at 10 nM and 100 nM doses to H-2274 tomatoes grown at 150 mM salt concentration were determined at the gene level. The mRNA levels of the genes encoding the stress enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase and the transcription factors SlWRKY31, ERF84, LeNHX1, HKT1;2 were determined by Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results showed that GR24-rac application controlled the regulation of genes and transcription factors and helps the plant to cope with high concentration salt. We concluded that the data obtained as a result of the study will open a new avenue for researchers to increase the tolerance to salinity in tomatoes.