An R2R3-type MYB transcription factor MYB103 is involved in phosphate remobilization in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract Background The MYB transcription factor (MYB TF) family has been reported to be involved in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the involvement of MYB TF in phosphate remobilization under phosphate deficiency remains largely unexplored. Results Here, we showed that an R2R3 type MYB transcription factor, MYB103, was involved in the tolerance to P deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana . AtMYB103 was induced by P deficiency, and loss function of AtMYB103 significantly enhanced sensitivity to P deficiency, as root and shoot biomass and soluble P content in the myb103 mutant were significantly lower than those in wild-type (WT) plants under the P-deficient condition. Furthermore, the expression of Pi deficiency -responsive genes was more profound in myb103 than in WT. In addition, AtMYB103 may also be involved in the cell wall-based P reutilization, as less P was released from the cell wall in myb103 than in WT, which was in company with a reduction of the ethylene production. Conclusions These findings uncover the role of MYB103 in the P remobilization, presumably through ethylene signaling.