Expression of both SOD and APX genes confers multiple abiotic stress tolerance to transgenic tall fescue plants

摘要

In order to develop tall fescue plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses, we generated transgenic plants expressing both Cu/Zn SOD and APX genes in chloroplasts under the control of oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter. Transgenic plants showed enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress caused by methyl viologen, hydrogen peroxide and heavy metals (Cd, Cu and As). Increased MDA and hydrogen peroxide were observed in wild-type plants compared to the transgenic plants when they exposed to these abiotic stresses. Moreover, transgenic plants showed enhanced transcription levels of SOD and APX genes under abiotic stresses. These results suggest that SOD and APX play a crucial role for ROS scavenging and overexpression of these genes can provide multiple abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic tall fescue plants.