Expression profiling of the DREB2 type gene from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under various abiotic stresses

Abstract

A dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) gene, designated LeDREB2, was isolated from tomato. It was classified as an A-2 group member of the DREB family. LeDREB2 is a single copy gene in the tomato genome, and it was strongly expressed in young leaves and roots but weakly expressed in mature leaves and shoots. Transcripts of the LeDREB2 genes were induced by various environmental stresses such as drought and cold. Expression analysis demonstrated that various oxidative stresses (e.g., salt (NaCl), abscisic acid (ABA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl viologen (MV)) could induce the transcripts of LeDREB2 gene after application of time courses treatments except ABA. These results indicate that the LeDREB2 gene is a DREB transcription factor, which may play a role in both abiotic and oxidative stress responses.