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Expression of an osmotin-like protein from Solanum nigrumconfers drought tolerance in transgenic soybean

2014; BioMed Central; Volume: 14; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1186/s12870-014-0343-y

1471-2229

Ricardo Luís Mayer Weber, Beatriz Wiebke-Strohm, Christian Bredemeier, Márcia Margis‐Pinheiro, Giovani Greigh de Brito, Ciliana Rechenmacher, P. F. Bertagnolli, Maria Eugênia Lisei de Sá, Magnólia de Araújo Campos, Regina Maria Santos de Amorim, Magda Aparecida Beneventi, Rogério Margis, Maria Fátima Grossi‐de‐Sá, Maria Helena Bodanese‐Zanettini,

Seed Germination and Physiology

Drought is by far the most important environmental factor contributing to yield losses in crops, including soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. To address this problem, a gene that encodes an osmotin-like protein isolated from Solanum nigrum var. americanum (SnOLP) driven by the UBQ3 promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana was transferred into the soybean genome by particle bombardment. Two independently transformed soybean lines expressing SnOLP were produced. Segregation analyses indicated single-locus insertions for both lines. qPCR analysis suggested a single insertion of SnOLP in the genomes of both transgenic lines, but one copy of the hpt gene was inserted in the first line and two in the second line. Transgenic plants exhibited no remarkable phenotypic alterations in the seven analyzed generations. When subjected to water deficit, transgenic plants performed better than the control ones. Leaf physiological measurements revealed that transgenic soybean plants maintained higher leaf water potential at predawn, higher net CO2 assimilation rate, higher stomatal conductance and higher transpiration rate than non-transgenic plants. Grain production and 100-grain weight were affected by water supply. Decrease in grain productivity and 100-grain weight were observed for both transgenic and non-transgenic plants under water deficit; however, it was more pronounced for non-transgenic plants. Moreover, transgenic lines showed significantly higher 100-grain weight than non-transgenic plants under water shortage. This is the first report showing that expression of SnOLP in transgenic soybeans improved physiological responses and yield components of plants when subjected to water deficit, highlighting the potential of this gene for biotechnological applications.