Identification and characterization of a salt tolerance-responsive gene ( AtGRP9 ) of Arabidopsis *

Soil salinity is one of the important limiting factors for plant growth and development. A cDNA clone encoding a protein (designated AtGRP9) was identified from Arabidopsis by functional expression of the plant cDNA library in the fission yeast S. pombe. Yeast cells overexpressing AtGRP9 displayed significantly enhanced salt tolerance. Northern analysis showed that expression of AtGRP9 in Arabidopsis was induced by NaCl and plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). These results suggest that AtGRP9 may be involved in the salt stress response in Arabidopsis.