Ectopic overexpression of AtHDG11 in tall fescue resulted in enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a cool-season perennial grass, which has been conventionally grown in the temperate area. However, as a major type of cool-season turf grass, its growth has been extended to the sub-tropical climate or even to the transitional climate between the sub-tropical and the tropical, and, in some cases, to heavily salinized lands. The extended growth imposes a serious challenge to its tolerance to the abiotic stress, particularly to drought, salt and high temperature. Here, we report a successful introduction of Arabidopsis AtHDG11 into the tall fescue via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The ectopic overexpression of AtHDG11 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter with four enhancers resulted in significantly enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress. No obvious adverse effects on growth and development were observed in the transgenic plants. The enhanced stress tolerance was associated with a more extensive root system, a lower level of malondialdehyde, a nearly normal Na(+)/K(+) ratio, a higher level of proline and a kinetically accelerated induction of SOD and CAT activities observed in the transgenic plants during drought and/or salt stress, indicating that an enhanced ROS scavenging capability might play a significant role in the acquired tolerance to the abiotic stress.
Cao
Ya-Jun
YJ
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Wei
Qiang
Q
Liao
Yang
Y
Song
He-Ling
HL
Li
Xian
X
Xiang
Cheng-Bin
CB
Kuai
Ben-Ke
BK
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D031751:Festuca / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D011392:Proline; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase