Current Science

Muhammad Naveed Shahid ¹, Adil Jamal ², Sarfraz Kiani ³, Javed Iqbal Wattoo ⁴, Bushra Rashid ³, Tayyab Husnain ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Township, Lahore, PK
2 College of Nursing, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah-715, SA
3 Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PK
4 Department of Biotechnology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, IN

Abstract

Cotton is the most important cash and fibrous crop, and is grown in more than 50 countries of the world. Cotton crop yield is seriously affected by soil salinity. This deleterious effect can be reduced by genetic modification in stress-susceptible cotton plants. Salt stress tolerant gene gaPGR5 (proton gradient regulator 5) was isolated from Gossypium arboreum and transformed into the stress-susceptible cotton cultivar (G. hirsutum). The gaPGR5 gene was cloned into pCAMBIA- 1301 vector and transformed in young embryos by Agrobacterium-mediated method. Plant GUS gene was used as reporter gene that showed blue colouration during histochemical assay. Molecular analysis of transgenic plants was done up to T2 generation. Selection of salt-tolerant transgenic plants was done by salt-stress (NaCl) treatment with different concentrations in a hydroponic culture. Transgene expression in salt-tolerant transgenic plants was evaluated through quantitative real-time PCR. Maximum transgene expression was recorded in those plants which were tolerant to higher salt concentration (175 mM NaCl) and vice versa. The plants which give higher transgene expression against salt stress are valuable for cultivation in salt-affected areas.

Keywords

Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium hirsutum, Proton Gradient Regulator, Salt-Stress Tolerance.

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