Isolation of Rice FOX Lines Showing Tolerance to High-Salinity or High-Temperature Stress

Abstract

FOX Hunting System (full-length cDNA over-expressor gene hunting system) is useful tool for large-scale functional gene analysis. By using this system, we attempt to isolate rice genes involved in tolerance to environmental stresses. So far, about 5,000 lines of transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing rice full-length cDNA (rice FOX lines) were screened at T2 generation for isolation of mutant lines that show tolerance to high-salinity or high-temperature stress. By comparing the growth on agar medium containing 150mM of NaCl, 56 lines were selected as high-salinity tolerant mutants. 9 of them could grow on agar medium containing even 180mM of NaCl. Several lines were found to be tolerant to transient high-temperature (42 degree Celsius) stress. We will identify rice cDNAs introduced in these mutant lines and confirm their involvement in stress tolerance by re-introducing experiment.