Abstract
The Arabidopsis gene GF14λ that encodes a 14-3-3 protein was introduced into cotton plants to explore the physiological roles that GF14λ might play in plants. The expression level of GF14λ under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter varied in transgenic cotton plants, and lines that expressed GF14λ demonstrated a "stay-green" phenotype and improved water-stress tolerance. These lines wilted less and maintained higher photosynthesis than segregated non-transgenic control plants under water-deficit conditions. Stomatal conductance appears to be the major factor for the observed higher photosynthetic rates under water-deficit conditions. The stomatal aperture of transgenic plants might be regulated by GF14λ through some transporters such as H+-ATPase whose activities are controlled by their interaction with 14-3-3 proteins. However, since 14-3-3 proteins interact with numerous proteins in plant cells, many metabolic processes could be affected by the GF14λ overexpression. Whatever the mechanisms, the traits observed in the GF14λ-expressing cotton plants are beneficial to crops under certain water-deficit conditions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1007-1014 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Plant and Cell Physiology |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2004 |
Keywords
- 14-3-3 protein
- Drought tolerance
- Leaf senescence
- Photosynthesis
- Stomatal conductance