Abstract
Plant productivity is limited by salinity stress, both in natural and agricultural systems. Identification of salt stress-related genes from halophyte can provide insights into mechanisms of salt stress tolerance in plants. Atriplex canescens is a xero-halophyte that exhibits optimum growth in the presence of 400 mM NaCl. A cDNA library derived from highly salt-treated A. canescens plants was constructed based on a yeast expression system. A total of 53 transgenic yeast clones expressing enhanced salt tolerance were selected from 105 transformants. Their plasmids were sequenced and the gene characteristics were annotated using a BLASTX search. Retransformation of yeast cells with the selected plasmids conferred salt tolerance to the resulting transformants. The expression patterns of 28 of these stress-related genes were further investigated in A. canescens leaves by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. In this study, we provided a rapid and robust assay system for large-scale screening of genes for varied abiotic stress tolerance with high efficiency in A. canescens.
Highlights
The world’s population is on track to grow from 7 to 9 billion in the 50 years [1]
Whole genome sequence information of laboratory model plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, and Thellungiella salsuginea has made possible comparative analysis of a glycophyte (A. thaliana) and a haplophyte (T. salsuginea) [11]. Such comparative genomics and experimental analyses have demonstrated that gene families categorized to cation transport, abscisic acid signaling, and wax production in T. salsuginea might contribute to its success in stressful environments [11]
Since little is known about molecular determinants and mechanisms for adaption to salt stress in woody halophyte A. canescens, we describe a yeast expression and screening system to rapidly and efficiently isolate salt-responsive genes from that source
Summary
The world’s population is on track to grow from 7 to 9 billion in the 50 years [1]. Whole genome sequence information of laboratory model plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, and Thellungiella salsuginea has made possible comparative analysis of a glycophyte (A. thaliana) and a haplophyte (T. salsuginea) [11] Such comparative genomics and experimental analyses have demonstrated that gene families categorized to cation transport, abscisic acid signaling, and wax production in T. salsuginea might contribute to its success in stressful environments [11]. The plant is a source of genes that could be employed in the genetic manipulation of crops for improvements in salt, drought and low temperature stress [14]. Since little is known about molecular determinants and mechanisms for adaption to salt stress in woody halophyte A. canescens, we describe a yeast expression and screening system to rapidly and efficiently isolate salt-responsive genes from that source
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