Expression of drought tolerance in transgenic cotton

Abstract

Tolerance against drought in T1 progeny of transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) previously transformed with GHSP26 (Heat Shock Protein Gene), GUSP1 (Universal Stress Protein Gene), and Phyto-B (Phytochrome-B Gene) was investigated at the vegetative, squaring, and boll formation stage. Detection of transgenes into the progeny plants through PCR showed a Mendelian inheritance pattern (3:1). Real-time PCR quantified the expression of GHSP26 as transgenic plants which tolerated drought stress for 10-12 days at an average of 18 fold more at the vegetative stage which was increased to 19 fold at the squaring stage, while control plants withstood drought period only for 6 days. The gene expression was reduced to 13-fold more (13-15 days) in transgenic lines on an average basis as compared to control plants. Expression of GUSP1 in transgenic progeny at the vegetative and squaring stage was quantified as 22 fold more (11-13 days) and decreased to 15 fold when compared to the control plants which withstood the drought period only for 6 days. Average relative fold expression of Phyto-B transgene as compared to the control was 0.67 more (8 days) at the vegetative stage. Thereafter, expression was elevated to 0.85 fold under drought stress conditions at squaring stage and continued to increase to 3.5 fold higher (14-15 days) at boll formation stage when compared to that of control plants. Most notably, the number of bolls per plant, single boll weight, and seed cotton yield of our transgenic lines were greater than those of non-transgenic plants under drought stress, which is of immense worth.

<i>AtDREB2A-CA</i> Influences Root Architecture and Increases Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Cotton

“…The performance of cotton lines over expressing stress responsive NAC1 (SNAC1) under drought and salt stress conditions was significantly better than WT plants in terms of boll number [36]. Similarly, cotton transgenic lines transformed with GHSP26 (Heat Shock Protein Gene), GUSP1 (Universal Stress Protein Gene) and Phyto-B (Phytochrome-B Gene) showed a significant increase in the number of bolls per plant, single boll weight, and seed cotton yield under drought stress, when compared with WT plants [34]. An improvement of yield components up to 24.0% in drought trials under field conditions was achieved using DREB1A-peanut plants across a wide range of stress intensities and resulted in higher harvest indices [62].…”

Irrigation-Water Management and Productivity of Cotton: A Review

“…Bellaloui et al [8] revealed that, under limited irrigation in the Mississippi Delta, the growth of cotton plants slowed to some extent, and this impacted the fiber and seed composition. More bolls were found in controlled environments than the stressed environments, and this indicated the negative effects of water stress on the number of bolls [90]. The flowering stage of cotton is found to be more sensitive to water stress than the vegetative one.…”

Expression of NCED gene in colored cotton genotypes subjected to water stress

“…Hwang et al (2010) also supports the idea that the overexpression of NCED in some genotypes may promote greater tolerance to drought. For Shamim et al (2013) and Clément et al (2011), this can be explained, because the increase in NCED expression influences the synthesis of ABA, which in turn is related to stomatal closure. Other researchers have also reported the action of ABA on the stomatal closure of stressed plants, promoting greater tolerance to the limiting conditions of the water stress (Setter et al, 2011;Shatil-Cohen et al, 2011).…”