Overexpression of a maize plasma membrane intrinsic protein ZmPIP1;1 confers drought and salt tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

<div><p>Drought and salt stress are major abiotic stress that inhibit plants growth and development, here we report a plasma membrane intrinsic protein ZmPIP1;1 from maize and identified its function in drought and salt tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. ZmPIP1;1 was localized to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum in maize protoplasts. Treatment with PEG or NaCl resulted in induced expression of <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> in root and leaves. Constitutive overexpression of <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> in transgenic <i>Arabidopsis</i> plants resulted in enhanced drought and salt stress tolerance compared to wild type. A number of stress responsive genes involved in cellular osmoprotection in <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> overexpression plants were up-regulated under drought or salt condition. <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> overexpression plants showed higher activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, lower contents of stress-induced ROS such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and higher levels of proline under drought and salt stress than did wild type. <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> may play a role in drought and salt stress tolerance by inducing of stress responsive genes and increasing of ROS scavenging enzymes activities, and could provide a valuable gene for further plant breeding.</p>