OsAPX4 gene response to several environmental stresses in rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)

Abstract

Expression of the gene, OsAPX4, coding for ascorbate peroxidase in leaves and roots of rice were induced by abiotic stresses, such as NaCl, NaHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, H₂O₂, CuCl₂. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) over-expressing ascorbate peroxidase exhibited greater tolerance to NaCl and NaHCO₃ and transgenic Arabidopsis over-expressing OsAPX4 had a greater salt tolerance than wild-type plants in 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 150, 200 mM NaCl and 5, 7.5 mM NaHCO₃. These results suggest that OsAPX4 plays an important role in multiple environmental stresses.

Keywords: Arabidopsis, Oryza sativa, thaliana, carbonic anhydrase ascorbate peroxides, gene expression stress

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(36), pp. 5908-5913, 6 September, 2010