Overexpression of AtGRDP2 gene in common bean hairy roots generates vigorous plants with enhanced salt tolerance

Proteins with glycine-rich repeats have been identified in plants, mammalians, fungi, and bacteria. Plant glycine-rich proteins have been associated to stress response. Previously, we reported that the Arabidopsis thaliana AtGRDP2 gene, which encodes a protein with a glycine-rich domain, plays a role in growth and development of A. thaliana and Lactuca sativa. In this study, we generated composite Phaseolus vulgaris plants that overexpress the AtGRDP2 gene in hairy roots generated by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. We observed that hairy roots harboring the AtGRDP2 gene developed more abundant and faster-growing roots than control hairy roots generated with the wild type A. rhizogenes. In addition, composite common bean plants overexpressing the AtGRDP2 gene in roots were more tolerant to salt stress showing increments in their fresh and dry weight. Our data further support the role of plant GRDP genes in development and stress response.