title: Transgenic poplar expressing codA exhibits enhanced growth and abiotic stress tolerance.
abstract: Glycine betaine (GB), a compatible solute, effectively stabilizes the structure and function of macromolecules and enhances abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We generated transgenic poplar plants (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa) expressing a bacterial choline oxidase (codA) gene under the control of the oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter (referred to as SC plants). Among the 13 SC plants generated, three lines (SC4, SC14 and SC21) were established based on codA transcript levels, tolerance to methyl viologen-mediated oxidative stress and Southern blot analysis. Growth was better in SC plants than in non-transgenic (NT) plants, which was related to elevated transcript levels of auxin-response genes. SC plants accumulated higher levels of GB under oxidative stress compared to the NT plants. In addition, SC plants exhibited increased tolerance to drought and salt stress, which was associated with increased efficiency of photosystem II activity. Finally, SC plants maintained lower levels of ion leakage and reactive oxygen species under cold stress compared to the NT plants. These observations suggest that SC plants might be useful for reforestation on global marginal lands, including desertification and reclaimed areas.
authors.affiliation: Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea; Department of Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea.
authors.forename: Qingbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea; Department of Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea; Department of Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea; Department of Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea.
authors.forename: Haeng-Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
authors.forename: Bingcheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Plant Systems Engineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 305-806, South Korea; Department of Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 305-350, South Korea. Electronic address: sskwak@kribb.re.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kwak
mesh_terms: D001622:Betaine / Q000378:metabolism; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D001622:Betaine; D043525:Cytosine Deaminase; C468827:codA protein, E coli
keywords: Abiotic stress; Biomass; Glycine betaine; Transgenic poplar; codA