Overexpression of a Δ 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase gene and analysis of tolerance to water- and salt-stress in transgenic rice

Abstract

A Δ 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) cDNA from mothbean ( Vigna aconitifolia L.) was introduced into rice ( Oryza sativa L.) genome by the biolistic method. Expression of this P5CS transgene under the control of a stress-inducible promoter led to stress-induced overproduction of the P5CS enzyme and proline accumulation in transgenic rice plants. Second-generation (R 1) transgenic rice plants showed an increase in biomass under salt-stress and water-stress conditions as compared to the non-transformed control plants.