Open AccessSimultaneous expression of regulatory genes associated with specific drought‐adaptive traits improves drought adaptation in peanut
Author(s) -
Ramu Vemanna S.,
Swetha Thavarekere N.,
Sheela Shekarappa H.,
Babitha Chandrashekar K.,
Rohini Sreevathsa,
Reddy Malireddy K.,
Tuteja Narendra,
Reddy Chandrashekar P.,
Prasad Trichi Ganesh,
Udayakumar Makarla
Publication year - 2016
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.12461
Subject(s) - biology , transgene , drought tolerance , gene , genetically modified crops , heat shock protein , proline , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genetics , amino acid
Summary Adaptation of crops to drought‐prone rain‐fed conditions can be achieved by improving plant traits such as efficient water mining (by superior root characters) and cellular‐level tolerance mechanisms. Pyramiding these drought‐adaptive traits by simultaneous expression of genes regulating drought‐adaptive mechanisms has phenomenal relevance in improving stress tolerance. In this study, we provide evidence that peanut transgenic plants expressing Al falfa zinc fin ger 1 ( Alfin1 ), a root growth‐associated transcription factor gene, Pennisetum glaucum heat‐shock factor ( Pg HSF 4 ) and Pea DNA helicase ( PDH 45 ) involved in protein turnover and protection showed improved tolerance, higher growth and productivity under drought stress conditions. Stable integration of all the transgenes was noticed in transgenic lines. The transgenic lines showed higher root growth, cooler crop canopy air temperature difference (less CCATD ) and higher relative water content ( RWC ) under drought stress. Low proline levels in transgenic lines substantiate the maintenance of higher water status. The survival and recovery of transgenic lines was significantly higher under gradual moisture stress conditions with higher biomass. Transgenic lines also showed significant tolerance to ethrel‐induced senescence and methyl viologen‐induced oxidative stress. Several stress‐responsive genes such as heat‐shock proteins ( HSP s) , RING box protein‐1 ( RBX 1) , Aldose reductase , late embryogenesis abundant‐5 ( LEA 5) and proline‐rich protein‐2 ( PRP 2) , a gene involved in root growth, showed enhanced expression under stress in transgenic lines. Thus, the simultaneous expression of regulatory genes contributing for drought‐adaptive traits can improve crop adaptation and productivity under water‐limited conditions.