Open AccessOverexpression of ubiquitin‐like Lp HUB 1 gene confers drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass
Author(s) -
Patel Minesh,
MillaLewis Susana,
Zhang Wanjun,
Templeton Kerry,
Reynolds William C.,
Richardson Kim,
Biswas Margaret,
Zuleta Maria C.,
Dewey Ralph E.,
Qu Rongda,
Sathish Puthigae
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12291
Subject(s) - biology , perennial plant , drought tolerance , pasture , gene , abiotic component , transgene , photosynthesis , abiotic stress , agronomy , botany , genetics , ecology
Summary HUB 1, also known as Ubl5, is a member of the subfamily of ubiquitin‐like post‐translational modifiers. HUB 1 exerts its role by conjugating with protein targets. The function of this protein has not been studied in plants. A HUB 1 gene, Lp HUB 1 , was identified from serial analysis of gene expression data and cloned from perennial ryegrass. The expression of this gene was reported previously to be elevated in pastures during the summer and by drought stress in climate‐controlled growth chambers. Here, pasture‐type and turf‐type transgenic perennial ryegrass plants overexpressing Lp HUB 1 showed improved drought tolerance, as evidenced by improved turf quality, maintenance of turgor and increased growth. Additional analyses revealed that the transgenic plants generally displayed higher relative water content, leaf water potential, and chlorophyll content and increased photosynthetic rate when subjected to drought stress. These results suggest HUB 1 may play an important role in the tolerance of perennial ryegrass to abiotic stresses.