AUTHOR=Zhang Feng , Jiang Sixia , Li Qiong , Song Zhiying , Yang Ying , Yu Shirui , Nie Zongyue , Chu Moli , An Yanlin 

TITLE=Identification of the ALMT gene family in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and analysis of the function of StALMT6/10 in response to aluminum toxicity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1274260

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1274260

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Aluminum-activated malate transporters (ALMTs) play an important role in the response to aluminum toxicity, maintenance of ion homeostasis balance, mineral nutrient distribution, and fruit quality development in plants. However, the function of the StALMT gene family in potato remains unknown. In this study, 14 StALMT genes were identified from the potato genome, unevenly distributed on seven different chromosomes. Collinearity and synteny analyses of ALMT genes showed that potatoes had six and twenty-two orthologous gene pairs with Arabidopsis and tomatoes, respectively, and more than one syntenic gene pair was identified for some StALMT gene family members. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed differential expression levels of StALMT gene family members in different tissues of potato. Interestingly, StALMT1, StALMT6, StALMT8, StALMT10, and StALMT12 had higher expression in the root of the potato cultivar Qingshu No. 9. After being subjected to Al3+ stress for 24 h, the expression of StALMT6 and StALMT10 in roots was evidently increased, displaying their decisive role in Al3+ toxicity. In addition, overexpression of StALMT6 and StALMT10 in Arabidopsis enhanced its tolerance to Al toxicity. These results indicate that StALMT6 and StALMT10 impart Al3+ resistance in potato, establishing the foundation for further studies of the biological functions of these genes.