FUNCTIONAL VALIDATION OF RAP2.3-LIKE, AN APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) IDENTIFIED FROM INDIAN MULBERRY (Morus alba L.)
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Date
2018-08-01
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Under present scenario of climate change crop plants are constantly exposed to various biotic and abiotic factors which affect crop growth and yield. Plants being sessile have evolved physiological, biochemical and molecular strategies to adapt to stressful situations. All adaptive mechanisms are tightly regulated by expression of specific genes. In eukaryotic system, gene expression is tightly regulated and transcription factors are the master regulators of the process. In a previous study, RAP2.3-like gene Apetala2/Ethylene responsive factor) was identified through global transcriptome analysis in mulberry. In this study, an attempt has been made to examine the stress responsive nature of the gene under different abiotic stresses using in-silico as well as in-vivo expression analysis. Experiments have also been carried out to functionally validate the gene in model system. Tobacco transgenic plants overexpressing this gene, developed in a previous study were used for the analysis. T1 generation seeds collected from transgenic plants were screened and advanced to next generation. Molecular analysis of the transgenic plants indicated T-DNA integration and transgene expression. Leaf disc assay carried out in the select lines showed improved cellular tolerance. These select lines were further analyzed using in-vitro regeneration assay. The calli from the transgenic lines sustained growth under NaCl stress indicating improvement in cellular tolerance. Further experiments are needed to confirm the precise role of MaRAP2.3-like gene in imparting abiotic stress tolerance.