Naila Khan Bangash, Shazia Rehman, Wasim Akhtar, Ejaz Aziz, Syed L. Shah and Tariq Mahmood*
Proteinase Inhibitors (PIs) are distributed throughout the plant kingdom. They are characterized as natural plant defense proteins as their genes are induced by biotic and abiotic stresses and other stress prone circumstances (insect mastication, mechanical injuries, pathogen infestation, and drought and UV exposure). Expression of such stress responsive genes can be modulated with the help of signaling molecules. In this study, transgenic tobacco (Nico iana benthamiana) generated through leaf disc method harboring PI-II gene under OsRGLP2 promoter. The effect of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) and Salicylic Acid (SA) were checked on PI-II gene expression in transgenic N. benthamiana. The maximum 10.4 fold induction was observed with 20 mM H2O2 and 8.05-fold with 15 mM SA. This H2O2 and SA signaling inducibility of PI-II is a strong indicative of its role in plant defense against abiotic stresses through SA and H2O2 dependent pathways. These results can be useful in studying a possible potential of PI-II gene to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants.
Published Date: 2023-05-31; Received Date: 2023-03-24
