The Xerophyta viscosa aldose reductase (ALDRXV4) confers enhanced drought and salinity tolerance to transgenic tobacco plants by scavenging methylglyoxal and reducing the membrane damage.
We report the efficacy of an aldose reductase (ALDRXV4) enzyme from Xerophyta viscosa Baker in enhancing the prospects of plant's survival under abiotic stress. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing ALDRXV4 cDNA showed alleviation of NaCl and mannitol-induced abiotic stress. The transgenic plants survived longer periods of water deficiency and salinity stress and exhibited improved recovery after rehydration as compared to the wild type plants. The increased synthesis of aldose reductase in transgenic plants correlated with reduced methylglyoxal and malondialdehyde accumulation and an elevated level of sorbitol under stress conditions. In addition, the transgenic lines showed better photosynthetic efficiency, less electrolyte damage, greater water retention, higher proline accumulation, and favorable ionic balance under stress conditions. Together, these findings suggest the potential of engineering aldose reductase levels for better performance of crop plants growing under drought and salt stress conditions.
School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Deepak
D
Kumar
Preeti
P
Singh
Mohd Aslam
MA
Yusuf
Chandrama Prakash
CP
Upadhyaya
Suchandra Deb
SD
Roy
Thomas
T
Hohn
Neera Bhalla
NB
Sarin
D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055864:Droughts; D018525:Germination / Q000235:genetics; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D010940:Plant Proteins; D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013012:Sorbitol; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; D011392:Proline; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D011188:Potassium