Increased tolerance to salt- and water-deficit stress in transgenic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by constitutive expression of LEA

• DOI: 10.1007/s10725-004-7924-y
• Publication Date: 2005-05-11T08:41:00Z
• Authors: Byong-Jin Park; Zaochang Liu; Akira Kanno; Toshiaki Kameya
• Keywords: Wilting; Plant Physiology; Hydroponics

A late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein gene, ME-leaN4, from rape (Brassica napus) was successfully introduced into lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Infection by Agrobacterium strain EHA101 containing the binary vector pIG121-LEA was applied. Six independent transgenic lettuce plants were generated as a result. Transgenic lettuce demonstrated enhanced growth ability as compared to non-transformed control plants under salt-stress and water-deficit stress conditions. After 10-day growth under 100 mM NaCl condition in the hydroponics, average plant length and fresh weight of transgenic lettuce were 2.8 cm and 2.5 g plant−1, while control plants were only 0.2 cm and 0.3 g plant−1, respectively. The increased tolerance was also reflected by delayed wilting of leaves caused by water-deficit stress. These results suggest that growth characteristics were improved in transgenic lettuce plants constitutively expressing the rape LEA gene in response to salt- and water-deficit stress.