CBL-Interacting Protein Kinase 2 Improves Salt Tolerance in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Salt stress severely limits soybean production worldwide. Calcineurin B-like protein-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) play a pivotal role in plant’s adaption to salt stress. However, their biological roles remain poorly understood. Here, the GmCIPK2 expression was increased by NaCl and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). GmCIPK2-overexpression Arabidopsis hairy roots displayed improved tolerance, whereas RNA interference of exhibited enhanced sensitivity. Further analyses demonstrated that, upon stress, proline content antioxidant enzyme activity decreased H2O2 content, malondialdehyde (MDA) Na+/K+ ratios soybean. Moreover, promoted salt- antioxidant-related genes response GmCIPK2-interacting sensor, GmCBL4, tolerance roots. Overall, these results suggest that functions positively