Recent Advances in Breeding for Abiotic Stress (Drought) Tolerance in Maize

LIM proteins have been found to play important roles in many life activities, including the regulation of gene expression, construction of the cytoskeleton, signal transduction and metabolic regulation. Because of their important roles in many aspects of plant development, LIM genes have been studied in many plant species. However, the LIM gene family has not yet been characterized in foxtail millet. In this study, we analyzed the whole genome of foxtail millet and identified 10 LIM genes. All LIM gene promoters contain MYB and MYC cis-acting elements that are related to drought stress. Based on the presence of multiple abiotic stress-related cis-elements in the promoter of SiWLIM2b, we chose this gene for further study. We analyzed SiWLIM2b expression under abiotic stress and hormone treatments using qRT-PCR. We found that SiWLIM2b was induced by various abiotic stresses and hormones. Under drought conditions, transgenic rice of SiWLIM2b-overexpression had a higher survival rate, higher relative water content and less cell damage than wild type (WT) rice. These results indicate that overexpression of the foxtail millet SiWLIM2b gene enhances drought tolerance in transgenic rice, and the SiWLIM2b gene can potentially be used for molecular breeding of crops with increased resistance to abiotic stress.

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BrEXLB1, a Brassica rapa Expansin-Like B1 Gene Is Associated with Root Development, Drought Stress Response, and Seed Germination

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11040404 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 404 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Muthusamy Muthusamy ◽

Joo Yeol Kim ◽

Eun Kyung Yoon ◽

Jin A. Kim ◽

Soo In Lee

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Stress ◽

Drought Stress ◽

Stress Response ◽

Seed Germination ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Root Growth ◽

Brassica Rapa ◽

Root Development ◽

Clubroot Disease ◽

Qrt Pcr

Expansins are structural proteins prevalent in cell walls, participate in cell growth and stress responses by interacting with internal and external signals perceived by the genetic networks of plants. Herein, we investigated the Brassica rapa expansin-like B1 (BrEXLB1) interaction with phytohormones (IAA, ABA, Ethephon, CK, GA3, SA, and JA), genes (Bra001852, Bra001958, and Bra003006), biotic (Turnip mosaic Virus (TuMV), Pectobacterium carotovorum, clubroot disease), and abiotic stress (salt, oxidative, osmotic, and drought) conditions by either cDNA microarray or qRT-PCR assays. In addition, we also unraveled the potential role of BrEXLB1 in root growth, drought stress response, and seed germination in transgenic Arabidopsis and B. rapa lines. The qRT-PCR results displayed that BrEXLB1 expression was differentially influenced by hormones, and biotic and abiotic stress conditions; upregulated by IAA, ABA, SA, ethylene, drought, salt, osmotic, and oxidative conditions; and downregulated by clubroot disease, P. carotovorum, and TuMV infections. Among the tissues, prominent expression was observed in roots indicating the possible role in root growth. The root phenotyping followed by confocal imaging of root tips in Arabidopsis lines showed that BrEXLB1 overexpression increases the size of the root elongation zone and induce primary root growth. Conversely, it reduced the seed germination rate. Further analyses with transgenic B. rapa lines overexpressing BrEXLB1 sense (OX) and antisense transcripts (OX-AS) confirmed that BrEXLB1 overexpression is positively associated with drought tolerance and photosynthesis during vegetative growth phases of B. rapa plants. Moreover, the altered expression of BrEXLB1 in transgenic lines differentially influenced the expression of predicted BrEXLB1 interacting genes like Bra001852 and Bra003006. Collectively, this study revealed that BrEXLB1 is associated with root development, drought tolerance, photosynthesis, and seed germination.

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Recent advances in engineering plant tolerance to abiotic stress: achievements and limitations

Current Opinion in Biotechnology ◽

10.1016/j.copbio.2005.02.001 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 123-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 857

Author(s):

Basia Vinocur ◽

Arie Altman

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Stress ◽

Plant Tolerance ◽

Engineering Plant ◽

Recent Advances

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Recent advances in breeding for drought tolerance in maize

Applications of Systems Approaches at the Field Level - Systems Approaches for Sustainable Agricultural Development ◽

10.1007/978-94-017-0754-1_5 ◽

1997 ◽

pp. 63-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

G. O. Edmeades ◽

M. Bänziger ◽

A. Elings ◽

S. C. Chapman ◽

J.-M. Ribaut

Keyword(s):

Drought Tolerance ◽

Recent Advances

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Simultaneous Expression of Abiotic Stress Responsive Transcription Factors, AtDREB2A, AtHB7 and AtABF3 Improves Salinity and Drought Tolerance in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0111152 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. e111152 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Vittal Pruthvi ◽

Rama Narasimhan ◽

Karaba N. Nataraja

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factors ◽

Abiotic Stress ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Arachis Hypogaea ◽

Arachis Hypogaea L ◽

Simultaneous Expression

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Phytocystatins and their Potential Application in the Development of Drought Tolerance Plants in Soybeans (Glycine max L.)

Protein and Peptide Letters ◽

10.2174/0929866526666191014125453 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 135-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Phetole Mangena

Keyword(s):

Abiotic Stress ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Plant Stress ◽

Cysteine Proteases ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Soybean Plant ◽

Oilseed Crop ◽

The Impact

: Plant cystatins, also called phytocystatins constitute a family of specific cysteine protease inhibitors found in several monocots and dicots. In soybean, phytocystatins regulate several endogenous processes contributing immensely to this crop’s tolerance to abiotic stress factors. Soybeans offer numerous nutritional, pharmaceutical and industrial benefits; however, their growth and yields is hampered by drought, which causes more than 10% yield losses recorded every harvest period worldwide. This review analyses the role of papain-like cysteine proteases and their inhibitors in soybean plant growth and development under drought stress. It also describes their localisation, regulation, target organs and tissues, and the overall impact of cystatins on generating drought tolerance soybean plants. These proteins have many functions that remain poorly characterized, particularly under abiotic stress. Although much information is available on the utilisation of proteases for industrial applications, very few reports have focused on the impact of proteases on plant stress responses. The exploitation of cystatins in plant engineering, as competitive proteases inhibitors is one of the means that will guarantee the continued utilisation of soybeans as an important oilseed crop.

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