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Altered physiology in trehalose-producing transgenic tobacco plants: Enhanced tolerance to drought and salinity stresses

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Abstract

Transgenic tobaccoNicotiana tabacum L. var. SR1) plants that over-express theEscherichia coli trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) gene(otsA) synthesized small amounts of trehalose (<400 µg g-1 leaf) while non-transformants produced no detectable trehalose. Some transgenic plants expressing a high level ofotsA exhibited stunted growth and morphologically altered leaves. We tested F22 homozygous plants devoid of phenotypic changes to determine their physiological responses to dehydration and salinity stresses. All transgenic plants maintained better leaf turgidity under a limited water supply or after treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Furthermore, fresh weight was maintained at higher levels after either treatment. The initial leaf water potential was higher in transgenic plants than non-transformants, but, in both plant types, was decreased to a comparable degree following dehydration. When grown with 250 mM NaCl, transgenic plants exhibited a significant delay in leaf withering and chlorosis, as well as more efficient seed germination. Our results suggest that either trehalose or trehalose-6-phosphate can act as an osmoprotective molecule without maintaining water potential, in contrast to other osmolytes. Furthermore, both appear to protect young embryos under unfavorable water status to ensure subsequent germination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 151-742, Seoul, Korea

    Sung-Soo Jun, Jin Young Yang, Hye Jin Choi & Young-Nam Hong

  2. School of General Education, Institute for Scientifically Able Youth, Kyungwon University, 461-701, Seoungnam, Korea

    Sung-Soo Jun

  3. Department of Life Science, The Catholic University of Korea, 420-743, Puchon, Korea

    Na-Ryung Kim & Min Chul Park

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  1. Sung-Soo Jun
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  2. Jin Young Yang
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  3. Hye Jin Choi
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  6. Young-Nam Hong
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Correspondence to Young-Nam Hong.

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Jun, SS., Yang, J.Y., Choi, H.J. et al. Altered physiology in trehalose-producing transgenic tobacco plants: Enhanced tolerance to drought and salinity stresses. J. Plant Biol. 48, 456–466 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030588

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