FUNCTIONAL VALIDATION OF USP-LIKE GENE CLONED FROM INDIAN MULBERRY (Morus alba L.)
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Date
2019-11-02
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, GKVK BENGALURU
Abstract
Universal stress proteins (USPs) are a group of proteins, whose expression is
stimulated by a wide range of stresses. Ubiquitously present in wide set of genomes
ranging from archae to plants and animals, the biological and biochemical functions of
these proteins are not completely uncovered. The present study examines the relevance of
a USP like gene (MaUSP-like), previously identified and cloned from Indian mulberry, in
imparting stress tolerance in model system tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). In-silico
expression analysis performed using the Arabidopsis homologue of MaUSP-like, and invivo analysis in mulberry indicated that the gene was responsive to diverse abiotic
stresses. Experiments conducted using transgenic seeds (T1 generation) showed no
significant impact on normal growth and development in tobacco. However, under salt
stress, the transgenic seedlings exhibited better germination, seedling vigor with better
lateral roots and total chlorophyll content than the non transgenic plants. Under osmotic
stress (D-mannitol), the transgenic seeds had higher germination percentage, and
exhibited better survival under heat stress. Transgenic plants showed better phenotype
and recovery after drought, with significantly higher relative water content, cell
membrane stability, root biomass and less water loss rate. There was delay in leaf
senescence under salinity and drought stress in transgenic lines and transgenic cell lines
sustained cell division under salt stress, in-vitro. The transgenic lines were found to be
heat stable compared to non transgenic plants. The study demonstrates the role of
MaUSP-like identified from Indian mulberry in improving cell tolerance and imparting
abiotic stress tolerance in tobacco.