Transformation of tomato cultivar ‘Pusa Ruby’ with bspA gene from Populus tremula for drought tolerance

Abstract

Boiling stable proteins are known to play a role in desiccation tolerance against water stress by protecting proteins in membranes and cytosol. A novel 66 kDa boiling stable protein was highly expressed in Populus tremula in response to gradual water stress. The plasmid carrying cDNA encoding this protein was transferred to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cultivar ‘Pusa Ruby’) through Agrobacteriumtumefaciens. Initially, hygromycin resistance was used for selection of transient gene expression. Stable integration of the T-DNA into nuclear genome was confirmed by PCR and PCR-Southern hybridization. Northern blot analysis detected the different levels of transcripts of bspA gene in individual transgenic lines. Drought tolerance of putative transgenic lines was assayed by PEG test, biomass analysis, proline estimation and electrolyte leakage measurement. All of them showed slightly increased tolerance of transgenic plants to water stress compared to non-transgenics.