Overexpression of calmodulin-like (ShCML44) stress-responsive gene from Solanum habrochaites enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses

• DOI: 10.1038/srep31772
• Publication Date: 2016-08-22T09:41:19Z
• Authors: Shoaib Munir; Hui Liu; Yali Xing; Saddam Hussain; Bo Ouyang; Yuyang Zhang; Hanxia Li; Zhibiao Ye
• Keywords: Malondialdehyde; Drought Tolerance; Plant Physiology; Genetically modified tomato

Abstract Calmodulin-like (CML) proteins are important Ca 2+ sensors, which play significant role in mediating plant stress tolerance. In the present study, cold responsive calmodulin-like ( ShCML44 ) gene was isolated from tolerant wild tomato Solanum habrochaites and functionally characterized. The differentially expressed all tissues including root, stem, leaf, flower fruit strongly up-regulated under cold, drought salinity stresses along with growth hormones. Under stress, progressive increase expression of observed particularly cold-tolerant S. habrochaites. ShCML44- overexpressed plants showed greater tolerance to recorded higher germination better seedling growth. Transgenic demonstrated antioxidant enzymes activity, gas exchange water retention capacity lower malondialdehyde accumulation membrane damage compared wild-type. Moreover, transgenic exhibited reduced reactive oxygen species relative contents respectively. Greater further reflected by up-/down-regulation stress-related genes SOD , GST CAT POD LOX PR ERD. crux, these results strengthen molecular understanding improve abiotic tomato.