Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants

article Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants published yes Xin Song author Miao Zhang author Ting Ting Wang author Yao Yuan Duan author Jie Ren author Hu Gao author Yan Jie Fan author Qiang Ming Xia author Hui Xiang Cao author Kai Dong Xie author Xiao Meng Wu author Fei Zhang author Si Qi Zhang author Ying Huang author 11b5bbff-8b61-11ed-b69e-d8ddd6bce951 Adnane Boualem author Abdelhafid Bendahmane author Feng Quan Tan author Wen Wu Guo author XiFe department Polyploidization is a common occurrence in the evolutionary history of flowering plants, significantly contributing to their adaptability and diversity. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these adaptive advantages are not well understood. Through comprehensive phenotyping of diploid and tetraploid clones from Citrus and Poncirus genera, we discovered that genome doubling significantly enhances salt stress resilience. Epigenetic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that increased ethylene production in the roots of tetraploid plants was associated with hypomethylation and enhanced chromatin accessibility of the ACO1 gene. This increased ethylene production activates the transcription of reactive oxygen species scavenging genes and stress-related hormone biosynthesis genes. Consequently, tetraploid plants exhibited superior root functionality under salt stress, maintaining improved cytosolic K+/Na+ homeostasis. To genetically validate the link between salt stress resilience and ACO1 expression, we generated overexpression and knockout lines, confirming the central role of ACO1 expression regulation following genome doubling in salt stress resilience. Our work elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of genome doubling in stress resilience. We also highlight the importance of chromatin dynamics in fine-tuning ethylene gene expression and activating salt stress resilience pathways, offering valuable insights into plant adaptation and crop genome evolution. Wiley2025 eng New Phytologist 0028-646X 1469-8137 39969116 00142491560000110.1111/nph.20428 2461176-191 Song X, Zhang M, Wang TT, Duan YY, Ren J, Gao H, Fan YJ, Xia QM, Cao HX, Xie KD, Wu XM, Zhang F, Zhang SQ, Huang Y, Boualem A, Bendahmane A, Tan FQ, Guo WW. 2025. Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants. New Phytologist. 246(1), 176–191. Song, Xin, et al. “Polyploidization Leads to Salt Stress Resilience via Ethylene Signaling in Citrus Plants.” New Phytologist, vol. 246, no. 1, Wiley, 2025, pp. 176–91, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428">10.1111/nph.20428</a>. Song, X., Zhang, M., Wang, T. T., Duan, Y. Y., Ren, J., Gao, H., … Guo, W. W. (2025). Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants. New Phytologist. Wiley. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428">https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428</a> X. Song et al., “Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants,” New Phytologist, vol. 246, no. 1. Wiley, pp. 176–191, 2025. Song, Xin, Miao Zhang, Ting Ting Wang, Yao Yuan Duan, Jie Ren, Hu Gao, Yan Jie Fan, et al. “Polyploidization Leads to Salt Stress Resilience via Ethylene Signaling in Citrus Plants.” New Phytologist. Wiley, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428">https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428</a>. Song X, Zhang M, Wang TT, et al. Polyploidization leads to salt stress resilience via ethylene signaling in citrus plants. New Phytologist. 2025;246(1):176-191. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20428">10.1111/nph.20428</a> X. Song, M. Zhang, T.T. Wang, Y.Y. Duan, J. Ren, H. Gao, Y.J. Fan, Q.M. Xia, H.X. Cao, K.D. Xie, X.M. Wu, F. Zhang, S.Q. Zhang, Y. Huang, A. Boualem, A. Bendahmane, F.Q. Tan, W.W. Guo, New Phytologist 246 (2025) 176–191. 194062025-03-16T23:01:25Z2025-09-30T11:00:06Z