Overexpression of AtPYL5 under the control of guard cell specific promoter improves drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2018 Aug:129:150-157. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.05.033. Epub 2018 May 31.

Abstract

PYR/PYLs function as ABA receptors and are key regulators during plant drought stress response. Previously we screened drought tolerance of Arabidopsis ABA receptors PYR/PYLs under the control of five different promoters. In this study, we characterized drought stress tolerance of AtPYL5 transgene under the control of one guard cell specific promoter, pGC1. pGC1::AtPYL5 transgenic Arabidopsis exhibited reduced transpiration rate and decreased water loss after drought treatment. Transformation of pGC1::AtPYL5 in Arabidopsis also decreased oxidative stress damage and improved photosynthesis under drought stress condition. These results indicated that pGC1::AtPYL5 construct is effective and might pave new way to develop genetically engineered plants to improve drought stress tolerance.

Keywords: ABA receptors; AtPYL5; Drought tolerance; Guard cell promoter; Oxidative damage; Transpiration rate.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis / physiology
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Dehydration
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Transpiration
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • PYL5 protein, Arbaidopsis
  • Water
  • Hydrogen Peroxide