Overexpression of an H+-PPase gene from Arabidopsis in sugarcane improvesdrought tolerance, plant growth, and photosynthetic responses

Authors : GHULAM RAZA, KAZIM ALI, MUHAMMAD YASIN ASHRAF, Shahid MANSOOR, Muhammad JAVID, Shaheen ASAD

Pages : 109-119

View : 13 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2016-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study investigated the integration of Arabidopsis vacuolar H+-pyro-phosphatase insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(H+-PPase); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AVP1); transgene in transgenic sugarcane plants for drought tolerance. The gene integration was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PCR); and Southern blotting. Transgene expression was estimated by Western blotting. When sugarcane plants were grown on soil under 50% reduced water supply, the transgenic sugarcane overexpressing AVP1 produced higher shoot biomass based on cane height, number of millable canes, and Brix insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(%); compared with wild-type. The overexpression of AVP1 in transgenic sugarcane plants increased tolerance to drought stress, as demonstrated by increased relative water content insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RWC); and leaf water insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(?w);, osmotic insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(?s);, and turgor potential insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(?p);. Physiological parameters such as photosynthetic rate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Pn);, stomatal conductance insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(C);, and transpiration rate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E); were less affected by water-deficit stress in transgenic AVP1 plants compared with wild-type plants. In conclusion, our results indicated that AVP1 conferred tolerance to drought or water-deficit stress, highlighting potential use of this gene for crop improvement through biotechnological applications.
Keywords : Transgenic sugarcane, drought tolerance, AVP1, overexpression, biolistic method, photosynthetic response