Drought Responsive WRKY Transcription factors in Tomato

Abstract

Abiotic stresses are the primary cause of crop loss worldwide. Drought is a serious an abiotic stress which lead to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect plant growth and productivity to agriculture that result in decreased crop yield. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, syn. Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is an important Solanaceae vegetable crop, Its growth and productivity is often challenged by water deficit in India.. For such reasons, improved drought stress tolerance is a much desired characteristic of a cultivated line of tomato and assumes a great economic significance in ever-changing climate. newlineThe present study was conceptualized to enhance drought tolerance of tomato by incorporating drought tolerant WRKY genes with the following objectives. newline1. Screening WRKY transcription factor genes from various available databases. newline2. Designing Q-PCR primers for WRKY TF genes. newline3. Q-PCR analysis of WRKY TF genes using control and drought stressed RNA of tomato. newline4. Analysis of Q-PCR results and selection of WRKY transcription factor genes differentially expressed under drought stress. newlineH-86 and EC-520061 line of tomato was taken for experimental studies. Morophogical, Physiological and Biochemical studies were performed to know the effect of drought stress on both the lines. Molecular Analysis was done to identify WRKY genes from various available databse, Isolation of total RNA, Qualitative and Quantitative estimation of total RNA Preparation of cDNA was done newline