TRICHODERMA
GST GENE CONSTRUCT |
Widespread
use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and heavy irrigation has resulted
in problems like heavy metal and xenobiotics contamination of soil as well
as increased soil salinity, all leading to yield loss. Crop plants are not
naturally equipped with a machinery to cope with elevated levels of
toxicity imposed by the intensive agriculture, as well as stresses imposed
by climate change. Genes for tolerance to heavy metals and abiotic
stresses could be introduced in the plants from other species. A GST gene
from Trichoderma virens was expressed in the experimental plant- tobacco.
The transgenic plants exhibited tolerance to a variety of abiotic stresses
like salinity, heavy metal cadmium and the toxic xenobuitic anthracene (a
ployaromatic hydrocarbon highly toxic to plants). This plasmid construct,
can be expressed in a variety of crop plants to enhance tolerance to
abiotic stresses. |
Note: Figure shows plants not treated (NT) and treated (T) with the GST gene construct and exposed to abiotic stress. |