Stable Expression of mtlD Gene Imparts Multiple Stress Tolerance in Finger Millet

摘要: Finger millet is susceptible to abiotic stresses, especially drought and salinity stress, in the field during seed germination early stages of seedling development. Therefore developing stress tolerant finger plants combating drought, associated oxidative these two growth important. Cellular protection through osmotic adjustment efficient free radical scavenging ability are important components tolerance mechanisms plants. Mannitol, an osmolyte, known scavenge hydroxyl radicals generated various stresses thereby minimize damage several plant species. In this study transgenic expressing mannitol biosynthetic pathway gene from bacteria, mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (mtlD), were developed Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation. mtlD integration putative was confirmed by Southern blot. Further, performance under studied at level T1 generation T2 seedlings. Results experiments showed that had better compared wild-type. At level, chlorophyll retention However, overall increase transgenics for three only marginal other species reported literature. Moreover, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol can be used introduce diverse traits agronomic importance millet.