title: Increased drought tolerance through the suppression of ESKMO1 gene and overexpression of CBF-related genes in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Improved drought tolerance is always a highly desired trait for agricultural plants. Significantly increased drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia-0) has been achieved in our work through the suppression of ESKMO1 (ESK1) gene expression with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and overexpression of CBF genes with constitutive gene expression. ESK1 has been identified as a gene linked to normal development of the plant vascular system, which is assumed directly related to plant drought response. By using siRNA that specifically targets ESK1, the gene expression has been reduced and drought tolerance of the plant has been enhanced dramatically in the work. However, the plant response to external abscisic acid application has not been changed. ICE1, CBF1, and CBF3 are genes involved in a well-characterized plant stress response pathway, overexpression of them in the plant has demonstrated capable to increase drought tolerance. By overexpression of these genes combining together with suppression of ESK1 gene, the significant increase of plant drought tolerance has been achieved in comparison to single gene manipulation, although the effect is not in an additive way. Accompanying the increase of drought tolerance via suppression of ESK1 gene expression, the negative effect has been observed in seeds yield of transgenic plants in normal watering conditions comparing with wide type plant.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fuhui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhixue
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Shandong University, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Juren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: KWS SAAT AG, Einbeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: KWS SAAT AG, Einbeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Tasja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blaschnig
authors.affiliation: KWS SAAT AG, Einbeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nehls
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; KWS SAAT AG, Einbeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D055864:Droughts; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012639:Seeds; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C104387:CBF1 protein, Arabidopsis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000040:Abscisic Acid