Genetic engineering of glycine betaine biosynthesis to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in plants

DOI 4 Citations 140 References
  • Khan Mohammad Sayyar
    Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • Yu Xiang
    Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • Kikuchi Akira
    Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • Asahina Masashi
    Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • Watanabe Kazuo N.
    Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba

Search this article

Abstract

Glycine betaine (GB) is an important compatible solute that protects plants against the damaging effects of abiotic stresses. A number of plants have been engineered to contain genes of the GB biosynthetic pathway, which confers enhanced tolerance to a range of abiotic stresses during various plant developmental stages. Unlike natural accumulators, the transgenic plants accumulate very low GB concentrations, insignificant in terms of coping with osmotic stress. The GB accumulation in these transgenic plants varies depending upon their capacity for endogenous choline uptake, the type of gene that catalyzes the GB biosynthetic pathway, and the localization of the transgene product in a particular cellular compartment. This review focuses on recent progress in studies of abiotic stress tolerance conferred by GB in transgenic plants.

Journal

  • Plant Biotechnology

    Plant Biotechnology 26 (1), 125-134, 2009

    Japanese Society for Plant Biotechnology

Citations (4)*help

See more

References(140)*help

See more

Keywords

Details

Report a problem

Back to top