• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2014

Plant abiotic stress tolerance has been modulated by engineering the trehalose synthesis pathway. However, many stress-tolerant plants that have been genetically engineered for the trehalose synthesis pathway also show abnormal development. The metabolic intermediate trehalose 6-phosphate has the potential to cause aberrations in growth. To avoid growth inhibition by trehalose 6-phosphate, we used a gene that encodes a bifunctional in-frame fusion (BvMTSH) of maltooligosyltrehalose synthase (BvMTS) and maltooligosyltrehalose trehalohydrolase (BvMTH) from the nonpathogenic bacterium Brevibacterium helvolum. BvMTS converts maltooligosaccharides into maltooligosyltrehalose and BvMTH releases trehalose. Transgenic rice plants that over-express BvMTSH under the control of the constitutive rice cytochrome c promoter (101MTSH) or the ABA-inducible Ai promoter (105MTSH) show enhanced drought tolerance without growth inhibition. Moreover, 101MTSH and 105MTSH showed an ABA-hyposensitive phenotype in the roots. Our results suggest that over-expression of BvMTSH enhances drought-stress tolerance without any abnormal growth and showes ABA hyposensitive phenotype in the roots.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.979-992
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• 2018

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most important food crop, and breeding drought-tolerant varieties is vital research goal. However, detailed molecular mechanisms in response to drought stress in potatoes are not well known. In this study, we developed EMS-mutagenized potatoes that showed significant tolerance to drought stress compared to the wild-type (WT) 'Desiree' cultivar. In addition, changes to transcripts as a result of drought stress in WT and drought-tolerant (DR) plants were investigated by de novo assembly using the Illumina platform. One-week-old WT and DR plants were treated with -1.8 Mpa polyethylene glycol-8000, and total RNA was prepared from plants harvested at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h for subsequent RNA sequencing. In total, 61,100 transcripts and 5,118 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) displaying up- or down-regulation were identified in pairwise comparisons of WT and DR plants following drought conditions. Transcriptome profiling showed the number of DEGs with up-regulation and down-regulation at 909, 977, 1181, 1225 and 826 between WT and DR plants at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Results of KEGG enrichment showed that the drought tolerance mechanism of the DR plant can mainly be explained by two aspects, the 'photosynthetic-antenna protein' and 'protein processing of the endoplasmic reticulum'. We also divided eight expression patterns in four pairwise comparisons of DR plants (DR0 vs DR6, DR12, DR24, DR48) under PEG treatment. Our comprehensive transcriptome data will further enhance our understanding of the mechanisms regulating drought tolerance in tetraploid potato cultivars.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.341-341
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• 2017

Abiotic stress adversely affects crop growth worldwide. Drought of the major abiotic stresses have the most significant impact on all of the crop. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of drought stress on photochemical performance and vitality of maize (Zea mays L.). The photochemical characteristics were analyzed in the context of period of drought stress during the maize growth. Drought experiment was carried out for four weeks, thereafter, the drought treated maize was re-watered. The polyphasic OJIP fluorescence transient was used to evaluate the behavior of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) during the entire experiment period. In drought stress, the performance Index (PI) level was reached earlier when compared to the controls. For the screening of drought stress tolerance the drought factor index (DFI) of each variety was calculated as follow DFI= log(A) + 2log(B). All the fourteen cultivars show DFI ranged from -0.69 to 0.30, meaning less useful in selection of drought tolerant cultivars. PI and electron transport flux values of fourteen cultivars were to indicate reduction of photosynthetic performance during the early vegetative stage under drought stress. In conclusion, DFI and energy flux parameters can be used as photochemical and physiological index.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.41-47
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• 2002

Adverse environmental conditions such as drought, high salt and cold/freezing are major factors that reduces crop productivity worldwide. According to a survey, $50-80\%$ of the maximum potential yield is lost by these 'environmental or abiotic stresses', which is approximately ten times higher than the loss by biotic stresses. Thus, Improving stress-tolerance of crop plants is an important way to improve agricultural productivity. In order to develop such stress-tolerant crop plants, we set out to identify key stress signaling components that can be used to develop commercially viable crop varieties with enhanced stress tolerance. Our primary focus so far has been on the identification of transcription factors that regulate stress responsive gene expression, especially those involved in ABA-mediated stress response. Be sessile, plants have the unique capability to adapt themselves to the abiotic stresses. This adaptive capability is largely dependent on the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), whose level increases under various stress conditions, triggering adaptive response. Central to the response is ABA-regulated gene expression, which ultimately leads to physiological changes at the whole plant level. Thus, once identified, it would be possible to enhance stress tolerance of crop plants by manipulating the expression of the factors that mediate ABA-dependent stress response. Here, we present our work on the isolation and functional characterization of the transcription factors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2002.04b
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• pp.41-47
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• 2002

Adverse environmental conditions such as drought, high salt and cold/freezing are major factors that reduces crop productivity worldwide. According to a survey, 50-80% of the maximum potential yield is lost by these 'environmental or abiotic stresses', which is approximately ten times higher than the loss by biotic stresses. Thus, improving stress-tolerance of crop plants is an important way to improve agricultural productivity. In order to develop such stress-tolerant crop plants, we set out to identify key stress signaling components that can be used to develop commercially viable crop varieties with enhanced stress tolerance. Our primary focus so far has been on the identification of transcription factors that regulate stress responsive gene expression, especially those involved in ABA-mediated stress response. Be sessile, plants have the unique capability to adapt themselves to the abiotic stresses. This adaptive capability is largely dependent on the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), whose level increases under various stress conditions, triggering adaptive response. Central to the response is ABA-regulated gene expression, which ultimately leads to physiological changes at the whole plant level. Thus, once identified, it would be possible to enhance stress tolerance of crop plants by manipulating the expression of the factors that mediate ABA-dependent stress response. Here, we present our work on the isolation and functional characterization of the transcription factors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 2017

Water stress obstructs rice growth mainly by oxidative damage in biological cells to cause a reduction of leaf photosynthesis and evapotranspiration processes. In this study, exogenous application of vanillic acid (VA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) to improve drought tolerance of two Oryza sativa cultivars, Q2 and Q8 was tested. The drought evaluation based on leaf phenotypes to show that both Q2 and Q8 resulted in remarkable water-stress tolerance induced by leaf spraying pretreatment of mixed solution of $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$. The mixtures of $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treated on Q2 and Q8 in water deficit condition also indicated that total phenols, total flavonoids, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly greater their controls. In general, the accumulation of individual phenolic acids was increased in exogenous phenolic treatments, as compared with controls. Particularly, Q2 obtained a considerable amount of endogenous PHBA after application of $50{\mu}M\;VA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ (0.18 mg/g DW, 0.71 mg/g DW, and 1.41 mg/g DW, respectively); and a negligible content of VA (0.003 mg/g DW) appeared uniquely in the treatment of $50{\mu}M\;VA$. Similarly, Q8 also absorbed a significant quantity of PHBA in $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treatments (0.15 mg/g DW, 0.15 mg/g DW, and 0.22 mg/g DW, respectively). In addition, the spraying $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ on Q8 leaves induced similar amount of drought tolerance of Q2 and Q8 were improved, paralleled with the increased amounts of endogenous phenolics revealed that VA and PHBA played an important role to enhance drought tolerance in rice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.33-33
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• 2017

Water stress obstructs rice growth mainly by oxidative damage in biological cells to cause a reduction of leaf photosynthesis and evapotranspiration processes. In this study, exogenous application of vanillic acid (VA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) to improve drought tolerance of two Oryza sativa cultivars, Q2 and Q8 was tested. The drought evaluation based on leaf phenotypes to show that both Q2 and Q8 resulted in remarkable water-stress tolerance induced by leaf spraying pretreatment of mixed solution of $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$. The mixtures of $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treated on Q2 and Q8 in water deficit condition also indicated that total phenols, total flavonoids, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly greater their controls. In general, the accumulation of individual phenolic acids was increased in exogenous phenolic treatments, as compared with controls. Particularly, Q2 obtained a considerable amount of endogenous PHBA after application of $50{\mu}M\;VA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ (0.18 mg/g DW, 0.71 mg/g DW, and 1.41 mg/g DW, respectively); and a negligible content of VA (0.003 mg/g DW) appeared uniquely in the treatment of $50{\mu}M\;VA$. Similarly, Q8 also absorbed a significant quantity of PHBA in $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$, $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$, and $50{\mu}M\;VA+50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ treatments (0.15 mg/g DW, 0.15 mg/g DW, and 0.22 mg/g DW, respectively). In addition, the spraying $50{\mu}M\;PHBA$ and $25{\mu}M\;VA+25{\mu}M\;PHBA$ on Q8 leaves induced similar amount of VA (0.04 mg/g DW). Meanwhile, there were no trace of VA and PHBA found in controls. The levels of drought tolerance of Q2 and Q8 were improved, paralleled with the increased amounts of endogenous phenolics revealed that VA and PHBA played an important role to enhance drought tolerance in rice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1045-1059
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• 2021

Various abiotic stressors like drought, salinity, temperature, and heavy metals are major environmental stresses that affect agricultural productivity and crop yields all over the world. Continuous changes in climatic conditions put selective pressure on the microbial ecosystem to produce exopolysaccharides. Apart from soil aggregation, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production also helps in increasing water permeability, nutrient uptake by roots, soil stability, soil fertility, plant biomass, chlorophyll content, root and shoot length, and surface area of leaves while also helping maintain metabolic and physiological activities during drought stress. EPS-producing microbes can impart salt tolerance to plants by binding to sodium ions in the soil and preventing these ions from reaching the stem, thereby decreasing sodium absorption from the soil and increasing nutrient uptake by the roots. Biofilm formation in high-salinity soils increases cell viability, enhances soil fertility, and promotes plant growth and development. The third environmental stressor is presence of heavy metals in the soil due to improper industrial waste disposal practices that are toxic for plants. EPS production by soil bacteria can result in the biomineralization of metal ions, thereby imparting metal stress tolerance to plants. Finally, high temperatures can also affect agricultural productivity by decreasing plant metabolism, seedling growth, and seed germination. The present review discusses the role of exopolysaccharide-producing plant growth-promoting bacteria in modulating plant growth and development in plants and alleviating extreme abiotic stress condition. The review suggests exploring the potential of EPS-producing bacteria for multiple abiotic stress management strategies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Grassland Science Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.22.1-22
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• 2002

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.302-310
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• 2016

A study aimed at identifying putative drought responsive genes that confer tolerance to water stress deficit in tea plants was conducted in a 'rain-out shelter' using potted plants. Eighteen months old drought tolerant and susceptible tea cultivars were each separately exposed to water stress or control conditions of 18 or 34% soil moisture content, respectively, for three months. After the treatment period, leaves were harvested from each treatment for isolation of RNA and cDNA synthesis. The cDNA libraries were sequenced on Roche 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing platform to produce 232,853 reads. After quality control, the reads were assembled into 460 long transcripts (contigs). The annotated contigs showed similarity with proteins in the Arabidopsis thaliana proteome. Heat shock proteins (HSP70), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (cat), peroxidase (PoX), calmodulinelike protein (Cam7) and galactinol synthase (Gols4) droughtrelated genes were shown to be regulated differently in tea plants exposed to water stress. HSP70 and SOD were highly expressed in the drought tolerant cultivar relative to the susceptible cultivar under drought conditions. The genes and pathways identified suggest efficient regulation leading to active adaptation as a basal defense response against water stress deficit by tea. The knowledge generated can be further utilized to better understand molecular mechanisms underlying stress tolerance in tea.