Improved yield, fruit quality, and salt resistance in tomato co-overexpressing and genes.

The K, Na/H antiporter LeNHX2 and the regulatory kinase SlSOS2 are important determinants of salt tolerance in tomato plants and their fruit production ability. In this work, we have analyzed the effects of and co-overexpression on fruit production, quality in tomato plants ( L. cv. MicroTom), and analyzed physiological parameters related to salt tolerance. Plants overexpressing , or both were grown in greenhouse. They were treated with 125 mM NaCl or left untreated and their salt tolerance was analyzed in terms of plant biomass and fruit yield. Under NaCl cultivation conditions, transgenic tomato plants overexpressing either or or both grew better and showed a higher biomass compared to their wild-type plants. Proline, glucose and protein content in leaves as well as pH and total soluble solid (TSS) in fruits were analyzed. Our results indicate that salinity tolerance of transgenic lines is associated with an increased proline, glucose and protein content in leaves of plants grown either with or without NaCl. Salt treatment significantly reduced yield, pH and TSS in fruits of WT plants but increased yield, pH and TSS in fruits of transgenic plants, especially those overexpressing both and . All these results indicate that the co-overexpression of and improve yield and fruit quality of tomato grown under saline conditions.