Abstract
Transient and long-term shortages of fresh water are major adverse environmental factors that cause dramatic reductions in crop production and distribution globally. In this study, we isolated a full-length CaSRP1 (Capsicum annuum stress-related protein 1) cDNA, which was rapidly induced by dehydration in hot pepper plants. The predicted CaSRP1 protein sequence exhibited significant amino acid identity to putative stress-related proteins and the small rubber particle protein (SRPP) found in rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). To study the cellular functions of CaSRP1, transgenic Arabidopsis plants (35S:CaSRP1) that constitutively expressed the CaSRP1 gene were constructed. Overexpression of CaSRP1 resulted in enhanced root and shoot growth and earlier bolting in the transgenic plants relative to wild-type plants. In addition, 35S:CaSRP1 overexpressors exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought stress as compared to the control plants. These results suggest that CaSRP1 plays dual functions as a positive factor for tissue growth and development and for drought-defensive responses. A possible cellular function of SRPP homologs in non-rubber-producing plants in relation to drought stress tolerance is discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 71-83 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Planta |
Volume | 232 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgments This work was supported by grants from the Technology Development Program for Agriculture and Forestry (Project No. 309017-5 funded by the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea), the National Research Foundation (Project No. 2009-0078317 funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Republic of Korea), and the BioGreen 21 Program (funded by the Rural Development Administration).
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Genetics
- Plant Science