Bridging model systems and crop improvement: expression of the Arabidopsis Salt ToleranceRelated Protein (STRP) enhances cold tolerance in tomato

to global food security. Defense proteins are key components of plant adaptive responses, and their functional characterization in model species can guide the development of stress-resilient crops. The Salt Tolerance Related Protein (STRP), a hydrophilic and intrinsically disordered protein from Arabidopsis thaliana, has been functionally characterized for its ability to confer tolerance to both salt and cold stress. In this study, we evaluated the potential of STRP to enhance cold tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum by generating stable transgenic lines constitutively expressing STRP fused to Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP). STRP-YFP expression led to more efficient seed germination and promoted root elongation in early seedling development. Upon exposure to cold stress, transgenic plants showed reduced cold-induced damage, including decreased ion leakage and lower chlorophyll degradation compared to wild type. Moreover, biochemical analyses conducted under cold stress conditions suggest that STRP retains its typical functional dynamics in tomato, including its stress-induced increase and nuclear localization. These results demonstrate that STRP expression improves cold stress tolerance in tomato, highlighting the value of translating functional insights from model species to crops for climate-resilient agriculture.