Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes were confirmed to confer resistance to drought and water deficiency. An LEA gene from Tamarix androssowii (named TaLEA) was transformed into Xiaohei poplar ( Populus simonii × P. nigra) via Agrobacterium . Twenty-five independent transgenic lines were obtained that were resistant to kanamycin, and 11 transgenic lines were randomly selected for further analysis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) gel blot indicated that the TaLEA gene had been integrated into the poplar genome. The height growth rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative electrolyte leakage and damages due to salt or drought to transgenic and non-transgenic plants were compared under salt and drought stress conditions. The results showed that the constitutive expression of the TaLEA gene in transgenic poplars could induce an increase in height growth rate and a decrease in number and severity of wilted leaves under the salt and drought stresses. The MDA content and relative electrolyte leakage in transgenic lines under salt and drought stresses were significantly lower compared to those in non-transgenic plants, indicating that the TaLEA gene may enhance salt and drought tolerance by protecting cell membranes from damage. Moreover, amongst the lines analyzed for stress tolerance, the transgenic line 11 (T11) showed the highest tolerance levels under both salinity and drought stress conditions. These results indicated that the TaLEA gene could be a salt and drought tolerance candidate gene and could confer a broad spectrum of tolerance under abiotic stresses in poplars.
Highlights
Various abiotic stresses, especially drought and salinity, have a substantial impact on plant growth and development
The results suggest that the TaLEA gene is a stress tolerance gene and may be responsible for enhancing salt and drought tolerance in forest trees
Xiaohei poplar explants infected with Agrobacterium and containing the TaLEA gene were selectively cultured on kanamycin medium
Summary
Especially drought and salinity, have a substantial impact on plant growth and development. To ensure both their own survival and the prosperity of their offspring, plants have developed a range of strategies, including regulation of gene expression, in order to cope with adverse conditions through various physiological adaptations. The overexpression of LEA genes can improve the salt and drought stress tolerance of transgenic plants. Overexpression of AtLEA3-3 in Arabidopsis confers salt and osmotic stress tolerance that is characterized during germination and early seedling establishment [9]. Muñoz-Mayor et al [10] identified that the plants overexpressing tas gene achieved improvement in long-term drought and salinity tolerance without affecting plant growth under non-stress conditions
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