拟南芥黑芥子酶TGG1对抗旱性的作用

为阐明拟南芥中黑芥子酶TGG1对抗旱性的影响,构建了35S启动子驱动的TGG1过表达载体,并将其转入拟南芥获得了转基因植株。以野生型和过量表达TGG1的转基因植株为材料,进行干旱胁迫实验,结果显示,在甘露醇模拟的干旱胁迫下35S∶TGG1种子平均发芽率显著高于野生型,平均相对电导率则显著低于野生型;自然干旱胁迫下,35S∶TGG1的相对失水速率显著慢于野生型,而干旱复水后的平均存活率则显著高于野生型。对气孔的观察结果表明,过表达TGG1的转基因植株气孔对ABA处理具有更高的敏感性,气孔关闭程度显著高于野生型植株。以上研究结果表明,过量表达TGG1基因可显著提高拟南芥的抗旱能力,而且其抗性机制很可能与气孔在逆境下的关闭程度有关。     

蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因功能鉴定

MwMYB4基因是从蒙古冰草中克隆得到的MYB类转录因子家族成员之一。该研究以转MwMYB4基因的拟南芥后代为材料,通过在干旱和低温胁迫下对转基因植株进行表型分析、理化指标测试和分子鉴定,分析并验证MwMYB4基因的功能。结果显示:(1)蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因已成功整合到转基因拟南芥T_1代的基因组中并实现转录水平的表达。(2)转基因拟南芥T_2代植株在干旱胁迫条件下,转基因植株叶片枯黄程度较轻,相对电导率较野生型变化幅度低,脯氨酸含量明显高于野生型对照,且MwMYB4基因的表达量随干旱胁迫时间延长而增加。(3)在低温胁迫条件下,转基因拟南芥叶片的枯白程度明显低于野生型,且MwMYB4基因的表达量随低温胁迫时间增加而增加。研究表明,过量表达蒙古冰草MwMYB4基因能够提高转基因拟南芥对干旱和低温的耐受性,该基因可能在干旱胁迫和低温胁迫调控机制中发挥调控作用,可作为改良农作物和其他牧草抗旱、抗寒性的重要候选基因。     

超表达AhNCED1拟南芥植株在渗透胁迫下抗氧化能力和抗旱相关下游基因表达变化

利用纯系超表达AhNCED1拟南芥植株,在添加300mmol·L-1山梨醇的MS培养基上胁迫培养,分析其表型及抗氧化能力。结果表明,在正常情况及300mmol·L-1山梨醇处理10d条件下,与129B08/nced3突变体和野生型比较,超表达AhNCED1植株生长状况好,主根长度增加,幼苗体内O2ˉ含量水平较低,POD和SOD酶活性较高。说明NCED1基因对于拟南芥体内抗氧化酶系统的维持有重要意义。用sqRT-PCR方法检测结果表明,野生型和超表达AhNCED1拟南芥植物体内KIN1、COR47和RAB18基因表达随脱水延长而明显增强,且在超表达AhNCED1拟南芥中增强幅度大。     

AhAO2转基因拟南芥植株抗旱生理分析

目的:研究AhAO2基因对拟南芥抗旱生理的影响.方法:以转AhAO2基因拟南芥(AO2 -1 -4、AO2 -3 -7、AO2 -8 -1)为实验材料,通过植物根长、相对含水量、气孔开度和抗氧化酶比活力指标的综合评定,分析超表达AhAO2基因对拟南芥抗旱生理的影响.结果:在PEG胁迫下,AO2 -1 -4、AO2 -3 -7、AO2 -8 -1植株体内相对含水量分别比野生型高2.1％、1.3％和1.6％;超表达植株AO2 -1 -4、AO2 -3 -7、AO2 -8 -1抗氧化酶POD酶比活力较野生型提高73.1％、66.2％和74.4％,SOD酶比活力较野生型提高64.6％、80.5％和43.1％.而野生型的气孔开度在正常生长和PEG胁迫的条件下均低于超表达拟南芥株系.AhAO2转基因植株可能通过提高抗氧化酶活性提升了抗旱能力.     

砂藓RcPLD基因的抗旱功能分析

砂藓(Racomitrium canescens)是一种具有极强耐脱水性的苔藓植物,编码磷脂酶D的基因RcPLD能够在砂藓的脱水和复水过程中产生显著的表达响应,它可能参与了砂藓的强耐脱水性功能。该研究使用已克隆的RcPLD编码序列构建拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)过量表达转基因株系rcpld-oe,初步考察过表达株系的干旱胁迫耐受能力及其相关的生理生化指标,分析RcPLD增强拟南芥抗旱性的机制。结果表明:(1)利用已克隆的RcPLD编码序列构建了植物中的过表达载体,成功构建了RcPLD的过表达转基因拟南芥株系rcpld-oe,并获得了多个T_3代rcpld-oe纯合体株系。(2)在正常生长条件下,rcpld-oe株系T_3代纯合体植株比野生型拟南芥植株体积小,但营养生长期较长,抽薹较晚,莲座叶衰老速率较慢;在干旱处理条件下,rcpld-oe株系表现出比野生型拟南芥更强的干旱耐受能力。(3)在干旱胁迫处理过程中,rcpld-oe株系莲座叶的水分散失速率降低,可能在一定程度上降低了干旱对膜完整性的损伤和光合作用的抑制,但其渗透调节物质含量的变化相对较小。研究发现,在干旱胁迫条件下,rcpld-oe植株莲座叶的水分散失速率和光合作用抑制程度显著降低,从而表现出明显强于野生型的干旱耐受能力,这为后续RcPLD功能的深入研究和更多砂藓抗旱功能基因的挖掘奠定了基础。     

转ZjAPX基因拟南芥对NaCl、干旱胁迫的耐性研究

旨在探讨枣树抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因ZjAPX在植物渗透胁迫中的作用。将ZjAPX基因转入到模式植物拟南芥,以野生型(WT)、转ZjAPX拟南芥株系T2为试材,进行不同浓度NaCl胁迫和干旱胁迫。结果表明,转基因株系的种子萌发、植株生长均优于野生型株系;荧光定量PCR检测转基因拟南芥植株在干旱和盐胁迫处理10 d后目的基因ZjAPX的表达量显著高于野生拟南芥,表明ZjAPX的高表达明显提高了植株的抗旱和耐盐性。     

油菜素内酯合成酶基因DAS5促进杨树生长及提高抗旱性的作用

以河北杨(Populus hopeiensis)为材料, 研究拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)油菜素内酯(BR)生物合成酶基因DAS5对其生长表型、生物量及抗旱性的影响。结果表明: (1) 转DAS5基因河北杨植株的根长、地径、叶柄及叶片长度均显著大于野生型植株, 且地上、地下部分干重及根冠比显著高于野生型, 其拥有发达的根系; (2) 在干旱胁迫下, 转DAS5基因河北杨植株失水褪绿速度较野生型植株缓慢, 在复水后转基因植株能够较早较好地恢复活力, 萌发较多的新幼芽且长势良好; (3)控水期间, 转基因河北杨的相对生长率显著高于野生型, 且随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧, 其可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均显著高于野生型。实验结果表明, 与野生型相比, 转基因植株具有较高的生长量与较强的抗干旱胁迫能力, 说明来自拟南芥的BR生物合成酶基因DAS5可以显著增加河北杨的生长量并在抵御干旱胁迫机制中发挥重要作用。     

CfGST转基因拟南芥抗寒性和叶肉细胞超微结构研究

CfGST基因克隆于加拿大森林害虫云杉蚜虫的幼虫基因组.研究CfGST转基因拟南芥表型特征,以及低温条件下叶肉细胞超微结构与存活率.结果表明,与野生型拟南芥相比,CfGST转基因拟南芥的茎粗、叶宽,植株高度、分枝数、荚果数皆降低,生长速度减慢.低温(5±1)℃处理后,转基因拟南芥叶片的叶绿体和线粒体膜结构完整清晰,存活率提高25.14%.     

CfGST转基因拟南芥抗寒性和叶肉细胞超微结构研究

CfGSr基因克隆于加拿大森林害虫云杉蚜虫的幼虫基因组。研究CfGST转基因拟南芥表型特征,以及低温条件下叶肉细胞超微结构与存活率。结果表明,与野生型拟南芥相比,CfGSr转基因拟南芥的茎粗、叶宽,植株高度、分枝数、荚果数皆降低,生长速度减慢。低温（5±1）℃处理后,转基因拟南芥叶片的叶绿体和线粒体膜结构完整清晰,存活率提高25．14％。     

过量表达谷胱甘肽转移酶基因对转基因拟南芥抗旱能力的影响

盐地碱蓬谷胱甘肽转移酶基因（OST）在拟南芥中过量表达后,在干旱胁迫下,转基因拟南芥植株的干重比野生型植株高,其总谷胱甘肽含量和谷胱甘肽库的氧化水平都比野生型植株的高,而丙二醛含量则比野生型的低。这些显示转基因拟南芥的抗干旱胁迫能力有所增强。     

Recurrent Mild Drought Events Increase Resistance Toward Extreme Drought Stress

The frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events such as drought are expected to increase in the future. At present, plant responses to recurrent extreme events have been sparsely examined and the role of stress history on subsequent stress response has been widely neglected. In a long-term field experiment, we investigated the response of grassland and heath communities to a very severe drought event, which exceeded the duration of projected drought scenarios. During the preceding 6 years, the plant communities experienced scenarios of varying water supply, including annually recurring drought, heavy rain, regular watering, and natural drought periods. Single species and plant communities that were regularly watered in the preceding years revealed the highest tissue die-back under a very severe drought when compared to plants that experienced mild or severe drought stress before. Contrary to expectations, the root to shoot ratio did not increase due to previous recurrent drought occurrences. Furthermore, pre-exposure effects on Vaccinium myrtillus and Plantago lanceolata tissue die-back and reproductive biomass (P. lanceolata) were altered by community composition. Recurrent mild drought stress seems to improve drought resistance of plant communities and species. Potential reasons could be epigenetic changes or soil biotic legacies. Morphological legacies such as altered root to shoot ratio did not play a role in our study. Imprinting events which trigger this ecological stress memory do not have to be extreme themselves. Thresholds, longevity of effects, and the role of biodiversity shown by the importance of community composition require further attention.     

Drought and drought tolerance

Drought tolerance is a nebulous term that becomes more nebulous the more closely we look at it, much as a newspaper photograph does when viewed through a magnifying glass. From the vantage point of an ecologist the features that distinguish xerophytic from mesophytic vegetation are clear. We can all tell that a cactus is more drought tolerant than a carnation. But when we look at crop plants, the features that confer drought tolerance are far from clear. The main reason for the contrast is that the traits we associate with xerophytes typically concern survival during drought, whereas with crops we are concerned with production—and insofar as the term drought tolerance has any useful meaning in an agricultural context, it must be defined in terms of yield in relation to a limiting water supply.Further, with the well-developed major crop plants, those of us trying to increase water-limited yield would be pleased to achieve improvements of just a few percent in environments that are highly variable in their water supply. This variability often means that several seasons are required to demonstrate the advantages of an allegedly improved cultivar. Traits that confer drought tolerance in such circumstances are subtle, and may manifest themselves in some types of drought but not in others. Indeed the most influential characters often have no direct connection to plant water relations at all, as I elaborate on below.I will concentrate on the agricultural rather than the natural environment (although there are no doubt lessons for us still to learn from analysing the behaviour of natural vegetation—see Monneveux, this volume), and will argue that drought tolerance is best viewed at an ontogenetic time scale—i.e. at the time scale of the development of the crop—weeks to months for an annual crop. The timing of the main developmental changes, like floral initiation and flowering, and the rate of development of leaf area in relation to the seasonal water supply, are the most important variables at this time scale. Occasionally though, rapid changes in the environment, such as a sudden large rise in air temperature and humidity deficit, perhaps associated with hot dry winds, make appropriate short-term physiological and biochemical responses essential for the survival of the crop. These short term responses may be amenable to cellular and sub-cellular manipulation, especially if the sudden environmental deterioration occurs at especially sensitive stages in development such as pollen meiosis or anthesis.Purists insist that drought is a meteorological term that refers only substantial to periods in which rainfall fails to keep up with potential evaporation. Within the spirit of this meeting it is appropriate to interpret the term more loosely than this definition, and to define it as circumstances in which plants suffer reduced growth or yield because of insufficient water supply, or because of too large a humidity deficit despite there being seemingly adequate water in the soil.     

Drought avoidance byCyperus rotundus

Cyperus rotundus L. is a hygrophilous plant, but it flourishes well even in the Indian desert. Higher bound water, hygroscopic capacity, % dry matter, lower desiccation rate and volume to mass ratio, development of thick sclerenchymatous layer, presence of cortical vascular bundles and endodermis-like layer appear to be the factors responsible for such adaptation.     

Separating Drought Effects from Roof Artifacts on Ecosystem Processes in a Grassland Drought Experiment

1

Given the predictions of increased drought probabilities under various climate change scenarios, there have been numerous experimental field studies simulating drought using transparent roofs in different ecosystems and regions. Such roofs may, however, have unknown side effects, called artifacts, on the measured variables potentially confounding the experimental results. A roofed control allows the quantification of potential artifacts, which is lacking in most experiments.

2

We conducted a drought experiment in experimental grasslands to study artifacts of transparent roofs and the resulting effects of artifacts on ecosystems relative to drought on three response variables (aboveground biomass, litter decomposition and plant metabolite profiles). We established three drought treatments, using (1) transparent roofs to exclude rainfall, (2) an unroofed control treatment receiving natural rainfall and (3) a roofed control, nested in the drought treatment but with rain water reapplied according to ambient conditions.

3

Roofs had a slight impact on air (+0.14°C during night) and soil temperatures (−0.45°C on warm days, +0.25°C on cold nights), while photosynthetically active radiation was decreased significantly (−16%). Aboveground plant community biomass was reduced in the drought treatment (−41%), but there was no significant difference between the roofed and unroofed control, i.e., there were no measurable roof artifact effects.

4

Compared to the unroofed control, litter decomposition was decreased significantly both in the drought treatment (−26%) and in the roofed control treatment (−18%), suggesting artifact effects of the transparent roofs. Moreover, aboveground metabolite profiles in the model plant species Medicago x varia were different from the unroofed control in both the drought and roofed control treatments, and roof artifact effects were of comparable magnitude as drought effects.

5

Our results stress the need for roofed control treatments when using transparent roofs for studying drought effects, because roofs can cause significant side effects.     

Drought resistance in woody plants

The Botanical Review -     

Drought and biodiversity in Grasslands

Summary The local species richness of four different grassland fields fell an average of 37% during a 1988 drought that decreased above-ground living plant mass by an average of 47%. Despite the return to more normal plant mass and precipitation during the next two years, there was no significant recovery in species richness in the 46 permanent plots, suggesting that local species richness became recruitment limited. The drought led to the loss of annual species independent of their abundance. For perennial grasses, perennial forbs, legumes and woody species, the probability of a species being lost from a plot was significantly negatively correlated with its predrought abundance. These results demonstrate that environmentally extreme conditions can limit species richness by causing the local extinction of rare species. Because droughts of this intensity occur about every 50 years in the prairie, periodic drought may have limited prairie diversity. Moreover, if the accumulation of greenhouse gases leads to a more variable or extreme climate, it could cause increased rates of species extinctions.     

Drought stress responses in crops

Among the effects of impending climate change, drought will have a profound impact on crop productivity in the future. Response to drought stress has been studied widely, and the model plant Arabidopsis has guided the studies on crop plants with genome sequence information viz., rice, wheat, maize and sorghum. Since the value of functions of genes, dynamics of pathways and interaction of networks for drought tolerance in plants can only be judged by evidence from field performance, this mini-review provides a research update focussing on the current developments on the response to drought in crop plants. Studies in Arabidopsis provide the basis for interpreting the available information in a systems biology perspective. In particular, the elucidation of the mechanism of drought stress response in crops is considered from evidence-based outputs emerging from recent omic studies in crops.     

Drought resistance in pearl millet

The influence of wilting on the levels of free proline, soluble proteins, reducing sugars, starch and on the activities of nitrate reductase, invertase, amylase and pyrophosphatases have been studied in the leaf tissue of five cultivars of pearl millet at their vegetative stage under pot culture conditions. The metabolic changes could not be correlated with the yield behaviour of the cultivars under a drought condition in the field.