Over expression of stress responsive Pennisetum glaucum 47 helicase (PG47) improves stress tolerance in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L)

Abstract

RNA helicases function as molecular motors that rearrange RNA secondary structure, potentially performing roles in any cellular process involving RNA metabolism in an ATP-dependent manner and play an important role in protein synthesis. Pennisetum glaucum 47 (PG47) RNA helicase overexpressed in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivar GPBD-4 improved drought tolerance. The transgenics plants were confirmed for presence, expression and stable integration by Kanamycin screening, genomic DNA PCR, RT-PCR and Southern analyses respectively. In T3 generation, the promising transgenic events were identified based on stress tolerance and improvement in productivity. The transgenic events showed enhanced stay-green phenotype and increased chlorophyll stability under drought stress. The transgenics also showed reduced chlorophyll retardation under NaCl, PEG and etherel-induced stress conditions. Transgenic plants showed increased yield than wild type under stress conditions. Results suggested that PG47 RNA helicase contributing for enhanced drought-adaptive traits and improved productivity under water-limited conditions.