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Overexpression of NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium L. enhances biomass, shortens life cycle and induces cold stress tolerance in tobacco: potential for engineering fourth generation biofuel crops

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Abstract

We report elevated biomass and altered growth characteristics of tobacco plants up on transformation with a NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2,CUC2) gene (GenBank Accession FJ754254) isolated from Lepidium latifolium L. (LlaNAC). Transgenic plants showed significant differences in fresh weight, midrib length of longest leaf, leaf area, height of the plant, root and shoot weights, etc. during vegetative phase. On 100th day after sowing (DAS), plants of transgenic lines were 2–3 times taller than the wild type plants, though no significant difference was recorded in moisture contents of any of the plant tissues. Over-expression of NAC gene up to 2,000 fold was recorded in leaves of transgenic plants on 100th DAS. Interestingly, transgenic plants showed significantly shortened (P(t) = 0.02–0.04) life cycle, as they showed a completely altered growth behaviour. Transgenic plants entered reproductive phase earlier by 60 days, with lines NC2 and NC7b entering first, followed by line NC10. However, the time period spent in the reproductive phase by the plant was nearly twice in case of transgenic lines NC2, NC7b and NC10, as compared to the wild type plants. Despite that, these lines completed their life cycle in 45–60 days lesser than the time taken by wild-type tobacco plants. No difference was recorded in fruit and seed yield of transgenic or wild type plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on over-expression of NAC gene causing altered growth and biomass patterns. We expect this study to become an important reference towards future engineering of plants for fuel and fodder purposes.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. Gyan Singh Shekhawat, JN Vyas University, Jodhpur for helpful discussion. Sadhana Singh and Pankaj Pandey acknowledge fellowship received from Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The plant material was developed at DIBER, India by Dr. Mohammad Aslam, presently at Texas A&M University, USA.

Conflict of interest

Authors have no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Pankaj Pandey

    Present address: National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, C-127, Phase 8, Industrial Area, SAS Nagar, Mohali, 160071, Punjab, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Division, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Goraparao, P.O. Arjunpur, Haldwani, 263139, Uttarakhand, India

    Atul Grover, Sadhana Singh, Pankaj Pandey, Sanjay Mohan Gupta & M. Nasim

  2. Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research Field Station, Panda Farm, Pithoragarh, 262501, Uttarakhand, India

    Vikas Yadav Patade

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  1. Atul Grover
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Correspondence to Atul Grover.

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Atul Grover and Sadhana Singh contributed equally to the manuscript.

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Grover, A., Singh, S., Pandey, P. et al. Overexpression of NAC gene from Lepidium latifolium L. enhances biomass, shortens life cycle and induces cold stress tolerance in tobacco: potential for engineering fourth generation biofuel crops. Mol Biol Rep 41, 7479–7489 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3638-z

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