Water-Deficit Tolerance and Field Performance of Transgenic Alfalfa Overexpressing Superoxide Dismutase.
Transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa) expressing Mn-superoxide dismutase cDNA tended to have reduced injury from water-deficit stress as determined by chlorophyll fluorescence, electrolyte leakage, and regrowth from crowns. A 3-year field trial indicated that yield and survival of transgenic plants were significantly improved, supporting the hypothesis that tolerance of oxidative stress is important in adaptation to field environments.
McKersie
B. D.
BD
Department of Crop Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
Bowley
S. R.
SR
Harjanto
E.
E
Leprince
O.
O