title: Overexpression of a Chimeric Gene, OsDST-SRDX, Improved Salt Tolerance of Perennial Ryegrass.
abstract: The Drought and Salt Tolerance gene (DST) encodes a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor, which negatively regulates salt tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa). Phylogenetic analysis of six homologues of DST genes in different plant species revealed that DST genes were conserved evolutionarily. Here, the rice DST gene was linked to an SRDX domain for gene expression repression based on the Chimeric REpressor gene-Silencing Technology (CRES-T) to make a chimeric gene (OsDST-SRDX) construct and introduced into perennial ryegrass by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Integration and expression of the OsDST-SRDX in transgenic plants were tested by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. Transgenic lines overexpressing the OsDST-SRDX fusion gene showed obvious phenotypic differences and clear resistance to salt-shock and to continuous salt stresses compared to non-transgenic plants. Physiological analyses including relative leaf water content, electrolyte leakage, proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, H2O2 content and sodium and potassium accumulation indicated that the OsDST-SRDX fusion gene enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic perennial ryegrass by altering a wide range of physiological responses. To our best knowledge this study is the first report of utilizing Chimeric Repressor gene-Silencing Technology (CRES-T) in turfgrass and forage species for salt-tolerance improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wenxing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Kexin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Grassland Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.|National Energy R&D Center for Biomass (NECB), China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D060054:Agrobacterium / Q000235:genetics; D008129:Lolium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium