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Water potential is maintained during water deficit in Nicotiana tabacum expressing the Escherichia coli glutamate dehydrogenase gene

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Abstract

Expression of bacterial gdhA (glutamate dehydrogenase; GDH; E.C. 1.4.1.1) genes in transgenic plants fundamentally alters plant growth, herbicide tolerance and metabolite profiles. The aim was to correlate gdhA expression with water potential during deficit using transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cv. ‘SR1’ (tobacco). Expression of GDH activity from the transgene was significantly correlated with high water potentials during deficit, both after 5 days of water deprivation (R = 0.91) and after 6 h after re-watering on day 6 (R = 0.72). GDH expression may provide a tool to alter the response of plants to periodic water deficit.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Scott Nolte for valuable discussions and help with experiments. Plant materials were developed with a grant from the Herman Frasch foundation. Analyses were supported by grants from the Illinois Missouri Biotechnology Alliance and the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research.

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Author notes

  1. R. Mungur

    Present address: Max Planck Institute, Pottsdam, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Medical Biochemistry, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    R. Mungur & D. A. Lightfoot

  2. Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 62901, IL, USA

    A. J. Wood & D. A. Lightfoot

  3. Department of Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 62901, IL, USA

    D. A. Lightfoot

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  1. R. Mungur
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  2. A. J. Wood
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Correspondence to D. A. Lightfoot.

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Mungur, R., Wood, A.J. & Lightfoot, D.A. Water potential is maintained during water deficit in Nicotiana tabacum expressing the Escherichia coli glutamate dehydrogenase gene. Plant Growth Regul 50, 231–238 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9140-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9140-4

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