Improved water use efficiency and shorter life cycle of Nicotiana tabacum due to modification of guard and vascular companion cells
Archivos
Fecha
2018-03-12
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Nature
Resumen
Descripción
Severe droughts are predicted for the twenty-frst century, which contrast with the increased demand
for plant materials. Thus, to sustain future generations, a great challenge is to improve crop yield
and water use efciency (WUE), which is the carbon gained per water lost. Here, expression of maize
NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) in the guard and vascular companion cells of Nicotiana tabacum
results in enhanced WUE, earlier fowering and shorter life cycle. Transgenic lines exhibit reduced
stomatal aperture than wild-type (WT). Nevertheless, an increased net CO2 fxation rate is observed,
which results in less water consumption and more biomass production per water used. Transgenic lines
export sugars to the phloem at higher rate than WT, which leads to higher sugars levels in phloem
exudates and veins. Leaf quantitative proteomic profling revealed drastic diferences in proteins
related to cell cycle, fowering, hormone signaling and carbon metabolism between transgenic lines
and WT. We propose that the increased sugar export from leaves in the transgenic lines alleviates sugar
negative feedback on photosynthesis and thus, stomatal closure takes place without a penalty in CO2
assimilation rate. This results in improved WUE and accelerated overall life cycle, key traits for plant
productivity in the near future world.
Part of the results presented are described in the patent AR072885B1 “Método para inducir el crecimiento y/o foración temprana de las plantas” (www.inpi.gob.ar)
Part of the results presented are described in the patent AR072885B1 “Método para inducir el crecimiento y/o foración temprana de las plantas” (www.inpi.gob.ar)
Palabras clave
Tobacco, Plant Materials, Water Use Efficiency, NADP-Malic Enzyme