TRANSGENIC PLANT AND RESISTANCE
AGAINST ABIOTIC STRESS
Seminar
Presented to
Dr. Nosheen Aslam
Presented by
Muhammad Sana Ullah
2220801
Contents
Terms To Know
History 1982
Why Transgenic Plants?
Gene Transfer Methods
Applications
Resistance To Abiotic Stress
Characteristics Of Abiotic Stresses
RANSGENE-
It is a foreign gene or genetic material that has been transferred naturally or by any
of a number of genetic engineering techniques from one organism to another.
TRANSGENESIS-
The phenomenon of introduction of exogenous DNA into the genome to create and
maintain a stable and heritable character.
TRANSGENIC PLANTS-
The plant whose genome is altered by adding one or more transgenes are known as
transgenic plants.
(Fan, Zhang, Zhang, & Zhang, 2012)
History
• 1st transgenic plant produced which is an antibiotic resistance tobacco
1982 plant.
• 1st genetically modified flower Moondust, bluish colored carnation,
was introduced.
1996 • Golden rice with β- carotene developed with increased nutrient value.
• 1st genetically engineered crop developed by Robert Fraley, Marc Van
2013 Montagu &Marry Dell Chilton were awarded World Food Prize.
Why transgenic plants?
NUTRITIONAL QUALITY
ENHANCED SELF LIFE
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT
NSECTICIDE Transgenic ERBICIDE
RESISTANCE
RESISTANCE
plant
BIOTIC STRESS TOLERANC E
ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANC
Gene Transfer Methods
BIOLOGICAL METHODS
Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer
Plant virus vectors
PHYSICAL METHODS
Electroporation
Microprojectile
Microinjection
Liposome Fusion
CHEMICAL METHODS
Polyethylene glycol mediated
Diethylaminoethyl dextran mediated
APPLICATIONS
Transgenic plants have various applications
RESISTANCE TO BIOTIC STRESS
1) INSECT RESISTANCE
2) VIRUS RESISTANCE
3) FUNGALAND BACTERIAL RESISTANCE
RESISTANCE TO ABIOTIC STRESS
4) 1) HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
5) 2) GLYPHOSATE RESISTANCE
IMPROVEMENT OF CROP YIELD & QUALITY
6) EXTENDED SELF LIFE OF FRUITS
7) IMPROVED NUTRITION
IMPROVED COLORATION PRODUCTION OF LOW-COST PHARMACEUTICALS
8) 1) EDIBLE VACCINES
9) 2) ESSENTIAL PROTEINS
RESISTANCE TO ABIOTIC STRESS
The different types of external stresses that influence the plant
growth and development.
These stresses are grouped based on their characters
Biotic
Abiotic
Almost all the stresses, either directly or indirectly, lead to the
production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that create oxidative
stress to plants.
This damages the cellular constituents of plants which is associated
with a reduction in plant yield.
(Mu et al., 2013)
ABIOTIC STRESS
Stress:
Factors of environment interfering the complete expression of genotypic potential.
Abiotic stress:
The negative impact of non-living factors on the living organisms in a specific
environment.
Abiotic stress factors or stressors are naturally occurring, often intangible factors
The four major abiotic stresses: drought , salinity, temperature and heavy metals,
cause drastic yield reduction in most crops.
Characteristics of abiotic stresses
Unpredictable occurrence.
Some stresses are impossible to manage.
One stress may increase or decrease the level of another stress. Differential
response of plant sp. to a given stress
Effects generated by one abiotic stress may overlap with some effects of another
stress.
Resistance To Abiotic Stress
Herbicide Resistance:
Weeds (wild herbs) are unwanted and useless
plants that grow along with the crop plants.
Weeds compete with traps for light and
nutrients, besides harbouring various
pathogens.
It is estimated that the world’s crop yield is
reduced by 10-15% due to the presence of
weeds.
Strategies for engineering herbicide resistance:
1. Overexpression of the target protein
The target protein, being acted by the herbicide can be produced in large quantities so that
the affect of the herbicide becomes insignificant. Overexpression can be achieved by
integrating multiple copies of the genes and/or by using a strong promoter.
(Duan & Cai, 2012)
Detoxification of herbicide by using a foreign
gene:
The plants do possess natural defense systems against toxic
compounds (herbicides).
Detoxification involves the conversion of toxic herbicide to non-
toxic or less toxic compound.
By enhancing the plant detoxification system, the impact of the
herbicide can be reduced
By introducing a foreign gene into the crop plant, the herbicide can
be effectively detoxified.
Mutation of the target protein:
The target protein which is being affected by the herbicide can be suitably
modified.
The changed protein should be capable of discharging the functions of the native
protein but is resistant to inhibition by the herbicide. • Once the resistant target
protein gene is identified, it can be introduced into the plant genomes, and thus
herbicide-resistant plants can be developed.
(Jewell, Campbell, & Godwin, 2010)
Glyphosate Resistance
Glyphosate, is a glycine derivative.
It acts as a broad-spectrum herbicide and is effective against 76
of the world’s worst 78 weeds.
Glyphosate is less toxic to animals and is rapidly degraded by
microorganisms.
(Ahmad et al., 2012)
Mechanism of action of glyphosate:
Glyphosate is rapidly transported to the growing points of plants.
It is capable of killing the plants even at a low concentration.
Glyphosate acts as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 5-
enoylpyruvylshikimate 3- phosphate synthase (EPSPS).
This is a key enzyme in shikimic acid pathway that results in the
formation of aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine and
tyrosine), phenols and certain secondary metabolites
Tolerance to Water Deficit Stresses:
The environmental conditions such as temperature (heat, freezing, chilling), water
availability (shortage due to drought), and salinity influence the plant growth, development
and yield.
The abiotic stresses due to temperature, drought and salinity are collectively regarded as
water deficit stresses
Effects of water deficit Results in osmotic stress.
Inhibits photosynthesis.
Increases the concentration of toxic ions (reactive oxygen species) within the cells.
Loss of water from the cell causing plasmolysis and finally cell death.
Plants produce osmoprotectants or osmolytes to overcome osmotic
stresses.
Divided into two groups.
1. Sugar and sugar alcohols e.g. mannitol, sorbitol, pinitol, ononitol,
trehalose, fructans.
2. Zwitterionic compounds: These osmoprotectants carry positive
and negative charges e.g. proline, glycine betaine.
The production of a given osmoprotectant is species dependent. The
formation of mannitol, proline and glycine betaine are more closely
linked to osmotic tolerance.
(Zhang et al., 2000)
