Elucidating the role of OsMybR1 in broad-spectrum tolerance towards biotic and abiotics stress in rice using transcriptome analysis of over-expressing and knockdown lines of OsMybR1

Rice is an economically important crop with high nutritional value, gets negatively affected by the varied environmental constrain. Therefore, in this study, we targeted Myb TF to functionally characterize its role in imparting biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in rice using gain/loss of function approach. Ectopic expression of OsMYBR1 in rice resulted in the Cr (VI), drought/PEG and R.solani-tolerant phenotype while wild-type and knockdown lines could not manage to grow efficiently under either of these stresses. Comparative transcriptome analysis of wild-type (Oryza sativa L. Nipponbare), OsMybR1 over-expressing and knockdown seedling and in vitro experiments documented the enhanced expression of transcription factor-like MYB and WRKY, stress-responsive genes like osmotin, HSP and LEA and anti-oxidant enzymes like peroxidase, GST and cytochrome P450 in over-expressing lines as compared to knockdown lines, might be responsible for combating stress tolerance. Salicylic acid and auxin cross-talk were quite evident from both experimental evidence and transcriptomic data analysis. Overall, the present study put forward OsMYB-R1, which is playing an essential role in augmenting multiple stress tolerance of over-expressing transgenic lines by modifying molecular signalling, internal cellular homeostasis and root morphology.