Improvement of drought tolerance in maize: towards the functional validation of the Zm-Asr1 gene and increase of water use efficiency by over-expressing C4-PEAB

Water availability is one of the major limiting factors for plant growth. Maize is particularly sensitive to water stress at reproductive stages with a strong impairment of photosynthesis and grain filling. Here, we describe the use of genetic transformation first to assess the role of a candidate g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochimie 2002-11, Vol.84 (11), p.1127-1135
Main Authors: Jeanneau, M, Gerentes, D, Foueillassar, X, Zivy, M, Vidal, J, Toppan, A, Perez, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Zea mays
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Summary:Water availability is one of the major limiting factors for plant growth. Maize is particularly sensitive to water stress at reproductive stages with a strong impairment of photosynthesis and grain filling. Here, we describe the use of genetic transformation first to assess the role of a candidate gene Asr1-a putative transcription factor-as an explanation for genetically linked drought tolerance Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), and second to modify CO2 fixation rates in leaves through changes of C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (C4-PEPC) activity. Transgenic Asr1 over-expressing lines show an increase in foliar senescence under drought conditions. The highest C4-PEPC overexpressing line exhibited an increase (+30%) in intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE) accompanied by a dry weight increase (+20%) under moderate drought condition
ISSN:0300-9084
DOI:10.1016/S0300-9084(02)00024-X