GM Maize with Improved Drought Tolerance
February 1, 2008| |
Plants’ responses to drought stress are complex, including changes in the biomass allocation pattern, carbon dioxide assimilation and detoxification processes. Enzymes play an important role in mediating these responses. A particular enzyme, PI-PLC, has been implicated in water deficit signaling. PI-PLC is the key enzyme in the phosphatidic acid (PA) pathway, an important secondary messenger in plants. PA levels are significantly increased when plant cells are exposed to osmotic, water deficit and temperature stresses.
By introducing the gene coding for PI-PLC, researchers from Shandong University in China, obtained transgenic maize lines with improved drought tolerance. During periods of drought, the transgenic plants showed higher relative water content, increased photosynthetic rate and higher grain yield. Drought stress usually disrupts the plant cell membrane, resulting to ion leakage. The transgenic line obtained by the scientists showed improved membrane stability and less lipid membrane peroxidation.
Read the abstract of the paper published by the journal Planta at http://www.springerlink.com/content/j37322j80t2h5181/?p=375ecc4012664065ac958b8bf8d0eecc&pi=0
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