PJB-2020-285
Overexpression of the ATP synthase β subunit gene enhanced the ability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plantlets to resist low temperatures
Lirong Cui, Yunlong Wang, Kai Cao and Zhirong Zou
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a kind of important greenhouse vegetable in the north of China, but it is also sensitive to low temperatures. Commercial losses due to low-temperature stress are particularly serious here. The aim of this experiment is to improve the resistance of tomato plants to low-temperature stress employing genetic engineering technology. Here, the ATP synthase β subunit gene was cloned and connected with the overexpression vector CaMV35S. Then, together, they were transferred to the low-temperature-sensitive tomato variety ‘Zhongshu4’. Tomato plantlets of the transgenic T1 generation and of the wild type, were placed in one or other of two artificial climate chambers. These were operated (1) at normal temperatures (25/18℃) and (2) at low temperatures (12/6℃) both under a 12-h photoperiod (350 µmol·m-2·s-1). After 7 d of low-temperature treatment, compared with low-temperature treated wild-type controls, the transgenic plantlets had increased activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, but reduced contents of malondialdehyde. The transgenic plantlets also showed increased net rate of photosynthesis, transpiration rate and tomatal conductance, but reduced concentrations of intercellular CO2. Meanwhile, the transgenic plantlets showed increases in the actual photochemical efficiency and the maximum photochemical efficiency of Photosystem II, light energy capture efficiency by open Photosystem II reaction center and photochemical quenching coefficient. These results combine to confirm that overexpression of the ATP synthase β subunit gene enhances the ability of these transgenic tomato plantlets to resist low temperatures.
To Cite this article:
Cui, L., Y. Wang, K. Cao and Z. Zou. 2022. Overexpression of the ATP synthase β subunit gene enhanced the ability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plantlets to resist low temperatures. Pak. J. Bot., 54(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2022-3(20)
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