Enhanced tolerance of IPB CP1 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) transgenic expressing superoxide dismutase gene under high temperature stress

Abstract

IPB CP1 potato potentially has high economic value as a raw material for potato chip industry. Unfortunately, potato is quite sensitive to abiotic stresses such as high temperature. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that detoxify Reactive Oxygen Species formed as a result of stress. The study aimed to determine the tolerance of CP1 transgenic potato and its production under high temperature stress. Potato was planted in Sentul, Bogor at the altitude of ±700 meters above sea level with a minimum and maximum average temperature ranges of 22.5-25.3 °C and 31.2-39.1 °C, respectively. The results showed that the transgenic plants have taller habitus, more leaves, and bigger stem diameter than that of non-transgenic plants. The transgenic plants had also higher chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic rate than that of non-transgenic plants. In addition, the activity of SOD and catalase enzymes in the transgenic plants were higher than that of non-transgenic plants. Conversely, the content of malondialdehyde in the transgenic plants was lower than that of the non-transgenic plants. The average tuber weight of the transgenic plants was 20.97 g per plant. The research shows that the transgenic plant demonstrates more tolerant to high temperature stress than non-transgenic plant.