New challenges in plant aquaporin biotechnology.
Recent advances concerning genetic manipulation provide new perspectives regarding the improvement of the physiological responses in herbaceous and woody plants to abiotic stresses. The beneficial or negative effects of these manipulations on plant physiology are discussed, underlining the role of aquaporin isoforms as representative markers of water uptake and whole plant water status. Increasing water use efficiency and the promotion of plant water retention seem to be critical goals in the improvement of plant tolerance to abiotic stress. However, newly uncovered mechanisms, such as aquaporin functions and regulation, may be essential for the beneficial effects seen in plants overexpressing aquaporin genes. Under distinct stress conditions, differences in the phenotype of transgenic plants where aquaporins were manipulated need to be analyzed. In the development of nano-technologies for agricultural practices, multiple-walled carbon nanotubes promoted plant germination and cell growth. Their effects on aquaporins need further investigation.
Department of Plant Nutrition, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura - CSIC, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: mballesta@cebas.csic.es.
Maria del Carmen
Mdel C
Martinez-Ballesta
Department of Plant Nutrition, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura - CSIC, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: mcarvaja@cebas.csic.es.
Micaela
M
Carvajal
D020346:Aquaporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000639:trends*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
D020346:Aquaporins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014867:Water
Aquaporin; Carbon nanotubes; Stress resistance; Water use efficiency