The gaseous phytohormone ethylene exerts its effect in plant development and
growth by regulating the transcription of certain plant genes. The hormone
interacts with ERFs (ethylene responsive factors), a group of DNA binding
proteins that modulate the expression of several stress-inducible genes.
Arabidopsis ERF genes have been shown to play important roles in plant
defense response. However, little is known about the functional significance
of ERF genes in important crops such as wheat, maize and potato.
Scientists from the Plant Genome Research Center and Seoul National
University in Korea showed that overexpression of the pepper ERF gene CaPF1
effectively enhanced tolerance to freezing, heat, heavy metal, and oxidative
stress in potatoes. The team also observed that CaPF1 was involved in tuber
formation. Microtuber formation was significantly retarded in lines
overexpressing the transgene. The results of the study suggest that future
research using various transcription factors, particularly ethylene
responsive factors, to improve stress tolerance in potato may result in
development of high-yielding crops.

The article published by the journal Planta is available to subscribers at
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