title: Overexpression of calmodulin-like (ShCML44) stress-responsive gene from Solanum habrochaites enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.
abstract: Calmodulin-like (CML) proteins are important Ca(2+) sensors, which play significant role in mediating plant stress tolerance. In the present study, cold responsive calmodulin-like (ShCML44) gene was isolated from cold tolerant wild tomato (Solanum habrochaites), and functionally characterized. The ShCML44 was differentially expressed in all plant tissues including root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit, and was strongly up-regulated under cold, drought and salinity stresses along with plant growth hormones. Under cold stress, progressive increase in the expression of ShCML44 was observed particularly in cold-tolerant S. habrochaites. The ShCML44-overexpressed plants showed greater tolerance to cold, drought, and salinity stresses, and recorded higher germination and better seedling growth. Transgenic tomato plants demonstrated higher antioxidant enzymes activity, gas exchange and water retention capacity with lower malondialdehyde accumulation and membrane damage under cold and drought stresses compared to wild-type. Moreover, transgenic plants exhibited reduced reactive oxygen species and higher relative water contents under cold and drought stress, respectively. Greater stress tolerance of transgenic plants was further reflected by the up-/down-regulation of stress-related genes including SOD, GST, CAT, POD, LOX, PR and ERD. In crux, these results strengthen the molecular understanding of ShCML44 gene to improve the abiotic stress tolerance in tomato.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Shoaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munir
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Rubber Tree, Ministry of Agriculture, Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou 571737, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Saddam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Yuyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Hanxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Zhibiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D032322:Solanum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride