Trehalase-inhibited transgenic tobacco plants by using antisense genes of trehalase increase abiotic stress tolerance.

Abstract

The nonreducing disaccharide trehalose (α-D-glucopyranosyl-[1-1]-α-D-glucopyranoside) is found in a wide variety of bacteria, algae, yeasts and insects. Trehalose serves not only as a carbohydrate reserve, but also as a protectant against a variety of stresses. Higher plants have the ability to synthesize trehalose, however small accumulation of trehalose is identified in plants, because of a specific trehalase activity. We created the trehalase-inhibited transgenic tobacco plants by using antisense genes of trehalase, and analyzed the abiotic stresses tolerance.
The transgenic plants showed the decrease in the trehalase gene expression and the enzyme activities, which resulted in the accumulation of trehalose. These transgenic plants had higher tolerance for drought and paraquat stresses than the nontransgenci plants. Higher germination rates in salt medium and after heat treatment were observed in the transgenic plants.