Abstract
Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide of glucose that has functions as a protectant in the stabilization of biological structures and enhances the tolerance of organisms to abiotic stress. In this study, we focused on the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) trehalose-6phosphate synthase (TPS) gene and analyzed the gene expression and the protective function for environmental stresses. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of tomato leaves treated with four different stresses such as 50 μM ABA, drought, 250 mM NaCl, chilling (10℃), it was found that an expression of tomato TPS gene was most strongly induced by chilling stress. Although ^1H-NMR spin-spin relaxation time T_2 and water content of tomato plants treated with chilling stress were higher than those of control, those treated with chilling stress and 100 mM trehalose maintained the same level of control. By 2,3,5- trip he nyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductive method, it was observed that trehalose reduced chilling injury. These results suggested that TPS may be involved in chilling tolerance of tomato plants.
