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2646 Advances in Environmental Biology, 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 ISSN 1995-0756 This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed ORIGINAL ARTICLE Overexpression of mtlD gene in potato (solanum tuberosum L.), cv. Arinda improves salt tolerance 1,2 Aliakbar Askari, 2Astghik Pepoyan 1 2 Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, BAM branch, Iran Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Armenian State Agrarian University, Yerevan, Armenia Aliakbar Askari, Astghik Pepoyan: Overexpression of mtlD gene in potato (solanum tuberosum L.), cv. Arinda improves salt tolerance ABSTRACT Potato as one of the world’s main tuber crops of the solanaceae family plays an important role in the economics scene. Since one of the major reasons for yield decreasing in the world are abiotic stresses. The aim of this research was producing transgenic potatoes with more tolerance to salinity stress and studying GMO potato features. To produce GMO plants, new gene (mtlD, mannitol -1- phosphate dehydrogenase, E.C.1.1.1.17) was transferred to a plant by using agrobacterium plasmid. For the production of transformed potato plant resistant to salinity stress, mannitol, 1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (mtlD, E.C.1.1.1.17) was used. At first mtld gene was isolated from pCabmtld plasmid of E. Coli and then was cloned in PBI121 plasmid. The promoters that have been most commonly used in the production of abiotic stress tolerant plants so far, include the CaMV 35S (Bhatnagar-mathur et al., 2007). This vector was inserted into Agrobacterium tumefaciens which was used for producing transformed potato plant and was stored in 28°c temperature. The freeze-thaw method (Holsters et al., 1978) was used for replacement of recombinant binary vector PBI-VHH into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains LBA4404.. Existence of recombinant gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR technique. For final confirmation, the features of transgenic potato were studied. Briefly, the transgenic potatoes and non- transgenic potatoes lines showed the different amounts of tolerance to salinity stress because the transgenic lines produced mannitol which increased osmotic pressure in salinity stress. The salt tolerance of transgenic potato (+mtlD) was recorded higher than that of non- transgenic potato (-mtlD). Growth analyses include CGR (Crop Growth Rate) and RGR (Relative Growth Rate) in transgenic and non- transgenic potatoes lines were showed that +mtlD potatoes lines grew better than –mtlD potatoes lines in salinity stress. This approved that +mtlD had more tolerance to salinity stress due to production of mannitol. The comparison of linear regression equations of transgenic (+mtlD) and non- transgenic potatoes (-mtlD) showed the more tolerance of +mtlD to salinity stress than –mtlD potatoes. Osmotic pressure in this GMO plant was increased by producing of mannitol and consequently producing mannitol certify that the mtlD gene was successfully transferred to potato. Key words: GMO potato, mtlD gene, tolerance, salinity stress Introduction Potato (solanum tuberosum L.) from the solanaceae family is one of the important tuber crops widely grown all over the world after rice, wheat and corn [23]. Taking into account the significance of potato as a food crop, the United Nation announced the year 2008 as an International Year of the potato in order to concentrate human attention on potato as a main food resource in developing countries [21]. The abiotic stresses: drought, high temperature, soil salinity and frost, are serious agricultural factors influenced on production of potatoes. Besides world population grows at an annual rate of about 1.5 %, drought, high temperature, soil salinity and frost causes crop loss and reduce average yield more than 50% all over the world [5]. (Phytophthora infestans) is a potato’s fungal disease commonly known as blight of potato (Irish: An Gorta Mor, The Bad Life) caused the great Famine in Ireland. Because of the disease, a million of the Irish population died and about a million leaved the country [13]. Considering the role of potato on human and animal nutrition, the new biotechnologies are used for the introducing of productive varieties of this crop. The use of GM organisms offers the potential for increased agricultural productivity and improved nutritional significance contributing directly to enhance human health and development [3,4,11]. GMOs were mentioned as organisms in that the genetic material (DNA) has been changed not in normal way [15]. Plant is one of the organisms that are mainly used for Corresponding Author Aliakbar Askari, Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, BAM branch, Iran E-mail:[email protected] 2647 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 genetic modifications. Genetically modified organism (GMO) is one of these viable organisms that have been altered genetically by genetic technology. Potato plants appear as a suitable model plant in the area of genetic modifications for different reasons [23]. By using the method of agrobacterium gene transfer method, the first transgenic crops were created in 1983[26]. Genetic engineering was effectively used in developing Crops varieties that today ended in planting genetic modified crops on more than 109.2 million acres over the world [17]. A famous genetically modified potato known as Amflora (EH92-527-1) owned by BASF Plant Science and it was approved for industrial usage in the European Union market on 2007 by the European Commission. Amflora is proved to be better than the natural starch recently used [19]. When a plant is subjected to abiotic stress, some genes that responsible for conferring a certain degree of protection to these stresses are turn on. As a result the levels of several metabolites and proteins will increase. To produce better crops under stress understanding the changes in cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanism that happen in reaction to stress, is necessary. Most crops are not able to synthesis the certain osmoprotectants which are naturally build up by stress tolerant organisms. Researches proved that the best method for abiotic stress tolerance is osmoregulation , especially when osmoregulatory genes are trigged in reaction to drought, salinity and high temperature. As a result, to produce stress tolerant crops a method was suggested in which special osmolytes were engineered and these osmolytes were over expressed in plants. Several methods are being followed to genetically engineer osmoprotection in plants. The first process for producing stress tolerant transgenic plants was to engineer gens that encode enzymes for synthesis of selected osmolytes [3]. The result was a lot of reports including osmoprotectants like glycine-betaine and proline. The various kinds of genes used for increasing. Also, a number of ‘‘sugar alcohols’’ (mannitol, trehalose, myo-inositol and sorbitol) have been intended for the engineering of compatible-solute overproduction, thereby protecting the membrane and protein complexes during stress [1,20]. The various kinds of genes have been used for increasing plants tolerance to water and salinity stress involve 1- Detoxifying genes, In many aerobic organisms, it is essential to effectively remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are created by environmental stresses. 2- Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, this kind of proteins show a group of high molecular weight proteins that are in large quantities during late embryogenesis and build up during seed desiccation and as a reaction to water stress. 3- Transporter genes, an important method to gain more tolerance to abiotic stress is to help plants to re-build homeostasis under stressful environments, restoring both ionic and osmotic homeostasis. 4Multifunctional genes for lipid biosynthesis Transgenic approaches by changes in the lipid biochemistry of the membranes try to improve photosynthesis under abiotic stress conditions. 5Regulatory genes, most genes that show reaction to multiple stresses such as dehydration and low temperature at the transcriptional level are also induced by ABA which protects the cell from dehydration [4]. The hypothesis of the investigation is the possibility of increasing the salinity tolerance of Arinda potato cultivar by formation of GMO potato. Research questions to be ask: If the mtlD gene introduction to potato’s callus cells increases the salinity tolerance of potato plant? We planned to produce a GMO potato by method of leaf disk method [7] and then the features of this produced were evaluated. The main aim of our investigation was suggestion of ways for increasing the potato plant tolerance to salinity and water stress by use of mtlD gene. Materials And Methods Plant material: Tubers of potato (solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Arinda were obtained from Agricultural research center of Bam (Iran). Callus induction and disinfection methods: Tubers of potato cv. Arinda were placed in sodium hypochlorite (5%) solution for 15 minutes then they were washed by distilled water three times for 5 minutes. These disinfected tubers were planted in pots which filled with sterilized soil by autoclaved in 121◦C for 20 minutes. After 7 days the pieces of terminal meristem(leaf buds) were isolated and were cultured on prelature containing basal MS semi-solid medium with 1.4% agar, supplemented with 2% sucrose, and 2,4-D(2mg/l) for callus induction. The cultures were maintained at 20-22°c under white fluorescent lamps with 16h photoperiod. Gene transformation method: To produce a transgenic potato plant resistant to salinity stress, mannitol, 1-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (mtlD, E.C.1.1.1.17) was used. The mtlD gene was isolated from pCabmtlD plasmid (E. coli) and then was cloned in PBI121 plasmid (LBA4404). The promoters that have been most commonly used in the production of abiotic stress tolerant plants is the CaMV 35S [18]. This vector was inserted into (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) which was used to produce transformed potato plant and was stored in 28°c temperature. The freeze-thaw method was used 2648 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 for replacement of recombinant binary vector PBI121 into (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) strains LBA4404. The (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) was inserted in LB (Lysogeny broth) medium and was centrifuged for 3 h in (4000-5000rpm) then lower part of solution was inserted in ½ MS medium. The most common growth media for bacteria (microorganisms) are nutrient broths (liquid nutrient medium) or LB medium (Lysogeny Broth). The explants (leaf bud or terminal meristem) which had inserted in preculture were incubated with (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) containing the 35SmtlD gene for 5 min. After washing and cocultivation for 2-3 days, the explants were transferred to liquid medium containing 250 mg/l cefotaxime and 100mg/l kanamycin and washed several times to select transformed cells and was checked by PCR technique. These transformed explants were placed in callus induction culture then were transferred to MS medium, supplemented with shoot induction medium (MS+2mg/l BAP+0.2mg/l NAA) then shoots (5-6mm length) were transformed to root induction medium (IAA, 1mg/l) for organogenesis. For disinfecting all hormones and antibiotics syringe filter (0.22µm) method was used. 2, 4-D hormone was dissolved in methanol but other hormones and antibiotics were dissolved in distilled water. Study the features of transgenic potato: Finally, the feature of this genetic modified potato was studied. We produced the transformed potato (20 plants) by transforming of mtlD gene to potatoes plants. Existence of recombinant gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR technique. Total DNA was extracted from plant tissues with cetyl (hexadecyl) trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), essentially as described by Wulff and Aljanabi [2,25]. Inserted DNA was detected by PCR. The forward primer was 5′GTCTAGATGAAAGCATTACATTTTGGCG-3′. The reverse primer was 5′-CCGAGCTCCACCATT ATTGCATTGC-3′ . PCR conditions were 30 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, and 72 °C for 1 min using PCR Thermal Cycle. PCR products were run on a 1 % agarose gel followed by staining with ethidium bromide. For final confirmation, the transformed plants were planted in pots and experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement using a complete randomizes design with three replications (factor A= salinity and factor B= mtlD, two levels: +mtlD, -mtlD). The treatments were the different amounts of salt (Nacl) solutions (0, 50, 100, 150 mM Nacl). The Nacl was dissolved in a dilute (0.5% W/v) commercial 20:20:20 fertilizer solution and plants were irrigated at least one a day. The experiment lasted 30 days. The growth indicators include fresh weight, dry weight, height, numbers of tubers, total weights of tubers, harvest index, shoot weight and root weight were measured at the end of the stress period. Results: As it is presented in table1, there are significant differences between four salinity stress treatments (0, 50,150,200 mM Nacl) and also there were significant differences between two mtlD treatments (+mtlD , mtlD ) in all growth indicators, by recorded probability alpha= 0.010 . Considerably Interactions recorded significant differences among all treatments. Data analysis of all growth indicators showed the negative influence of salinity stress (different Nacl concentration) on two potato lines (+mtlD and – mtlD). Considerably, the recorded growth indicators reduction in +mtlD (GMO potato) line was recorded more than – mtlD lines. In –mtlD plants, salt stress reduced fresh weight by 40% in 50 mM Nacl , 65% in 100 mM Nacl , 87% in 150 mM Nacl while in +mtlD potatoes salt stress decreased fresh weight by 20% in 50 mM Nacl , 44% in 100 mM Nacl , 55% in 150 mM Nacl . In –mtlD plants, salt stress reduced dry weight by 45% in 50 mM Nacl , 67% in 100 mM Nacl , 81% in 150 mM Nacl but in +mtlD potatoes salt stress decreased dry weight by 19% in 50 mM Nacl , 37% in 100 mM Nacl , 45% in 150 mM Nacl (Table 1). Table 1: The effect of salinity stress on transgenic and non-transgenic potatoes growth Nacl * Plant* Fresh Dry weight Height (cm) Numbers Total weight (gr) (gr) of tubers weights of tubers (gr) 0 -mtlD 82.3 ± 0.7 17.50 ± 1.1 56.2 ± 0.64 5 45 ± 0.55 +mtlD 78.7 ± 1.83 16.83 ± 1.3 52.4 ± 1.40 5 40 ± 1.21 50 -mtlD 48.6 ±0.52 10.40 ± 0.7 24.7 ± 1.36 3 27 ± 0.87 +mtlD 62.9 ± 0.90 13.53 ± 1.1 43.6 ± 1.26 4 32 ± 1.32 100 -mtlD 28.7 ± 1.78 6.23 ± 0.9 17.8 ± 1.61 1 8 ± 1.27 +mtlD 43.8 ± 0.75 10.53 ± 0.9 28.2 ± 1.71 3 22 ± 1.34 150 -mtlD 10.4 ± 0.87 3.53 ± 1.1 12.9 ± 1.38 0 0 +mtlD 34.8 ± 1.61 9.36 ± 1.0 19.7 ± 0.36 2 16 ± 1.27 *(mol.cm-3) , Transgenic plant(+mtlD) and Non transgenic plant(-mtlD) Harvest Index 55 ± 0.55 51 ± 2.27 55 ± 2.24 50 ± 2.40 28 ± 3.02 50 ± 3.26 0 46 ± 4.58 Shoot weight (gr) 29 ± 0.5 31 ± 0.4 17.4± 0.5 25.1± 1.1 16.6± 1.1 19.8± 1.2 9.5± 0.45 17 ± 1.5 Root weight (gr) 7.3 ± 0.2 7.8 ± 2.8 4.2 ± 0.9 5.5 ± 2.4 3.9 ± 0.6 2.3 ± 0.6 1 ± 0.3 1.8± 1.83 2649 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 Table 2: The mannitol concentration in leaves, stems and roots of non – transgenic and transgenic potatoes Mannitol concentration (µ mol.g-1 fresh weight) Plant lines Leaf A* Leaf B * Stem +mtlD 1.86 ± 0.121 1.45 ± 0.604 1.01 ± 0.104 _mtlD 0.002 ± 0.001 0.001 ±0.0008 0.0 *Leaf A; leaves on the top of plant, Leaf B; leaves on the lower parts of plant Root 2.85 ± 0.678 0.06 ± 0.001 14 CGR(g.m‐2 ) 12 10 8 6 +mtlD 4 ‐mtlD 2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Days after planting Fig. 1: CGR (Crop Growth Rate) of +mtlD and –mtlD potatoes (irrigated with 150 mM Nacl) Growth analysis is widely used analytical tool for characterizing plant growth and in classical growth analysis, CGR was applied to determine of plant growth. CGR is defined as dry matter accumulation rate per unit land area. It has been calculated as follows: CGR = ( W2- W1)/SA (t2 – t1) where CGR is crop growth rate expressed in g per m2 per day W1 and W2 are crop dry weights at the beginning and end of intervals , t1 and t2 are corresponding days, and SA is the land area occupied by plants at each sampling. Values of CGR are normally low during early growth stages and increase with time, reaching maximum values at the time of flowering. The CGR (Crop Growth Rate) for +mtlD is greater than –mtlD potatoes. The maximum CGR for +mtlD was 13 gr per m2 and 10 gr per m2 for – mtlD (Fig 1). 0.14 RGR(g.g‐1 .day‐1 ) 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.06 ‐mtlD 0.04 +mtlD 0.02 0.00 10 14 18 22 26 30 Day after planting Fig. 2: RGR (Relative Growth Rate) of +mtlD and –mtlD potatoes (irrigated with 150 mM Nacl) 2650 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 Relative growth rate (RGR) is a measure used in plant physiology to quantify the speed of plant growth. It is measured as the mass increase per aboveground biomass per day, for example as g g-1 d1 . RGR is calculated using the following equation: RGR = (ln W2 - ln W1)/(T2-T1) where W1 and W2 are plant dry weights at times T1 and T2. In fact many plants exhibit a declining RGR over time but the RGR for –mtlD is fewer than transgenic potato (Fig 2). LAI 2.5 2 1.5 +mtlD 1 ‐mtlD 0.5 0 10 15 20 25 30 Day after planting Fig. 3: LAI (Leaf Area Index) of +mtlD and –mtlD potatoes (irrigated with 150 mM Nacl) Leaf area index (LAI) is defined as leaf area per unit soil area (cm2.m-2). The equation of LAI is ; LAI= (A ×N)/10000 where A is leaf area (cm2) and N is plants per m2. Also there is another equation for LAI calculation: CGR=LAI ×NAR. It was showed that LAI of GMO potatoes is much lower than that of non-transgenic potatoes (Fig 3). Chart Title 14 NAR (g.m‐2.d‐1) 12 10 8 6 +mtlD 4 ‐mtlD 2 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Day after planting Fig. 4: NAR (Net Assimilation Rate) of +mtlD and –mtlD potatoes (irrigated with 150 mM Nacl) A useful measure of the photosynthetic efficiency of plants is ‘net assimilation rate’ which was defined as the rate of increase of dry weight (W) per unit of leaf area (L); that equation is: NAR= (1/A) (dW/dt), whereA is leaf area and is the change in plant dry matter per unit time.NAR values decrease with crop growth due to mutual shading of leaves and reduced photosynthetic efficiency of older leaves. When comparing NAR values, it was determined that transgenic potatoes lines have a higher NAR than non- transgenic potatoes lines (Fig 4). 2651 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 The regression equation for salinity stress (Nacl concentration) with dry weight of transgenic (+mtlD) and non- transgenic potatoes lines (-mtlD) were created by spss software. The linear regression equations showed that the transgenic (+mtlD) has a low negative gradient (slope) in compare with non- transgenic (-mtlD). This expressed the low negative effect of salinity on +mtlD potato due to production of mannitol and osmotic pressure was increased in transgenic potato. Then +mtlD has more tolerance to salinity stress ( equation 1 and equation 2). Equation 1(- mtlD). Y = 16.327 – 0.92 X, Equation 2(+ mtlD). Equation 1 Model Summary R Square F 0.955 42.926 . . . . Linear Logarithmica Powera df1 1 . . Y = 16.374 – 0.051 X df2 2 . . Model Summary R Square F df1 df2 Linear 0.963 51.601 1 2 Logarithmica . . . . Powera . . . . The independent variable is Salinity and Dependent Variable is Dryweight Sig. 0.023 . . Equation 2 Sig. 0.019 . . Parameter Estimates Constant b1 16.327 - 0.092 .000 .000 .000 .000 Parameter Estimates Constant b1 16.374 - 0.051 .000 .000 .000 .000 Fig. 5: Linear regression for salinity and dry weight of non- transgenic potato (- mtlD) and transgenic potato (+ mtlD) Discussion: It is indicated that considerably, the more tolerance to salinity stress of GMO potato (+mtlD) was produced in compared with non- transgenic potato (control treatment, - mtlD). Osmotic pressure in this GMO plant was increased by producing of mannitol and producing mannitol certify that the mtlD( mannitol -1- phosphate dehydrogenase , EC 1.1.1.17) gene was transferred to potato plant successfully and this gene expression in GMO potatoes plants (+mtlD)( Table2). In the presented research it has been observed that tolerance to salinity increased with increase of mannitol content and mannitol was significantly produced by existence of mtlD gene in transgenic potatoes (+mtlD)(Table1 and Table2). Similar results also had been observed earlier [1]. Authors showed that expression of mtlD gene for biosynthesis of mannitol in wheat improves tolerance to salinity stress. They also demonstrate that mannitol improves growth of transgenic wheat under water stress and salinity both at the callus and the plant. Thomas and his coworkers transformed the mtlD gene into Arabidopsis thaliana which encodes mannitol 1- phosphate dehydrogenase. They indicated that tolerance to salinity of seeds increased due to accumulation of mannitol [22]. This result is in an agreement with the research result. Huizhong and his colleagues have also revealed that the salt tolerance of transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.), which this transgenic plant was produced by expression mtlD gene (E.C. 1.1.1.17), were much higher than of their control [9]. The similar results to our research results were observed by Tarczynski. They expressed of a bacterial mtlD gene in transgenic tobacco leads to production and accumulation of mannitol. Their studies indicated the roles of sugar alcohols such as mannitol, in stress tolerance in higher plants [20]. Hu have studied on overexpression of mtlD gene in 2652 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(10): 2646-2653, 2012 transgenic populous tomentosa improves salt tolerance through accumulation of mannitol. They achieved similar results to our results that relative growth rate of transgenic plants were much less influenced by salt stress than in non- transgenic plants[8]. All growth analyses of transgenic and nontransgenic potatoes lines were exhibited that +mtlD potatoes lines grew better than –mtlD potatoes lines in salinity stress. This certified that +mtlD had more tolerance to salinity stress due to production of mannitol. The comparison of linear regression equations of transgenic (+mtlD) and non- transgenic potatoes(mtlD) showed the more tolerance of +mtlD to salinity stress than –mtlD potatoes( equation 1and equation 2). 4. 5. 6. 7. Conclusion: As total achievement, we can conclude that, it was produced GMO potato in this investigation. Also it was certified that mtlD gene transfer to GMO potatoes plants by PCR and measuring growth indicators methods. The GMO potatoes (20 lines) showed tolerance to salinity stress (even in150 mM Nacl). This certified that mtlD gene in genetic modified potatoes causes producing mannitol and increase osmotic pressure (Table 2). Therefore tolerances to salinity stress of GMO potatoes were increased and this is in agreement with Pharr (1996), Karakas (1997), Gilbert (2000), Wang (2003), Khare (2010) and Moghaieb [6,10,12,14,16,24]. 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