The plant-specific NAC transcription factors control various biological processes, including plant development and stress responses. We have isolated an ANAC032 gene, one of the NAC transcription factor family, which was highly activated by multi-abiotic stresses, including high salt and drought in Arabidopsis. Here, we generated transgenic plants constitutively expressing ANAC032 and its knockout to identify the functional roles of ANAC032 in Arabidopsis under abiotic stress responses. The ANAC032-overexpressing plants showed enhanced tolerance to salinity and drought stresses. The anac032 knockout mutants were observed no significant changes under the high salt and drought conditions. We also monitored the expression of high salt and drought stress-responsive genes in the ANAC032 transgenic plants and anac032 mutant. The ANAC032 overexpression upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, RD29A and ERD10, under the stresses. Thus, our data identify that transcription factor ANAC032 plays as an enhancer for salinity and drought tolerance through the upregulation of stress-responsive genes and provides useful genetic traits for generating multi-abiotic stress-tolerant forage crops.

Drought stress is a condition that occurs frequently in the field, it reduces of the agricultural yield of field crops. The aim of the study was to screen drought-adapted genotype of Italian rye grass. The experiments were conducted between the two Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cultivars viz. Hwasan (H) and Kowinearly (KE). The plants were exposed to drought for 14 days. The results suggest that the morphological traits and biomass yield of KE significantly affected by drought stress-induced oxidative stress as the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level was induced, while these parameters were unchanged or less affected in H. Furthermore, the cultivar H showed better adaptation by maintaining several physiological parameter including photosystem-II (Fv/Fm), water use efficiency (WUE) and relative water content (RWC%) level in response to drought stress. These results indicate that the cultivar H shows improved drought tolerance by generic variation, improving photosynthetic efficiency and reducing oxidative stress damages under drought stress. These findings can be useful to the breeder and farmer for improving drought tolerance in Italian rye grass through breeding programs.

The objective of this study was to determine effects of phosphorus on lignification and carbohydrate metabolism in Kentucky bluegrass under drought stress. Drought stress was induced by reducing of water to plants in pots. Two types of phosphorus were applied as potassium phosphate (PO4 3-; P) or potassium phosphonate (PO3 3-; PA) in drought-stressed plants. Drought had significant negative effects on plant growth, as revealed by reduced biomass of shoot. Drought-induced increase of lignin content was concomitant with the increase of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Soluble sugar content was highly increased but fructan content was largely decreased by drought stress. However, the application of phosphorus was efficient to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought. PA application improved reduced shoot growth and relative water content, and inhibited lignification synthesis with a reduction of PAL activity. P or PA application maintained soluble sugar and fructan content at similar levels to controls under drought stress. These results indicate that phosphorus application may mitigate the drought stress by inhibiting the lignification and promoting the fructan assimilation.

Drought is one of important environmental stress for plant. Drought has deleterious effect to plant growth including maize (Zea mays L.) such as vegetative and/or reproductive growth, root extension, photosynthesis efficiency, flowering, anthesis-silking interval (ASI), fertilization, and grain filling. In this study, we screened drought tolerant maize in 21 cultivars from different sources, sixteen NAM parent lines (B73, CML103, CML228, CML247, CML277, CML322, CML333, CML69, Ki11, Ki3, Ky21, M37W, Mo18w, NC350, Oh43 and Tx303), four Korean hybrids (Cheongdaok, Gangdaok, Kwangpyeongok and Pyeonganok) and one Southeast Asian genotype (DK9955). Drought stress (DS) index was evaluated with leaf rolling score at seedling stage and ASI at silking date. The leaf rolling scoring of CML228, DK9955 and Ki11 were determined 1.28, 1.85, 1.86, respectively. However, M37W, Kwangpyeongok, B73 and NC350 were determined over the 3. ASI analysis revealed that CML228, CML103, Cheongdaok, NC350, B73, CML322, Kwangpyeongok and Ki11 are represented less than 5 days under DS and less than 3 days of difference between DS and well-watered (WW), but CML69, Ki3, Pyeonganok, M37W, Mo18w and Gangdaok were represented more than 10 days under DS and more than 8 days of difference between DS and WW. Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) analysis determined CML228, Ki11, and CML322 were regarded as drought tolerance cultivars. Eventually, Ki11 showed genetic similarity with Korean cultivars by QTL analysis and MDS analysis. Ki11 has a potential for development of drought tolerance maize with Korean cultivars.

본 연구에서는 내건성 식물 선발을 위한 최적 인자를 구명하고, 이들 내건성 식물들의 생장특성을 조 사하였다. 건조저항인자에 대한 나머지 건조저항일(RD), 엽면적(LD), 단위증산량(UTR), 상대함수량 (RWC), 상대수분손실량(RWL), 엽면적(LA), 기공수(SN) 및 기공면적(SA) 등 6개 인자들을 비교한 결과 상대수분손실량과 단위증산량이 건조저항일에 많은 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. PCA분석 결과 SA, LA, RD는 한그룹으로 RWC와 SN은 다른 한 그룹으로 구분되었고, UTR은 SA, LA와, RWL은 RWC와 SN과 음의 상관을 보였다. 상기 결과를 종합하여 느릅나무, 도깨비바늘, 뚝갈, 매듭풀, 새, 더위지기, 맑은대쑥, 독말풀, 긴담배풀, 소리쟁이, 비수리, 장구채, 개기장, 도깨비가지를 내건성 식물 종으로 선 발하였고, 이들에 대한 생장시험을 수행하였다. 절토사면지에서 내건성 식물의 줄기생장은 식물 종간에 약간의 차이를 보였는데, 줄기생장과 잎의 수는 느릅나무를 제외하고 폿트에서는 차이를 보이지 않았 다. 그러나 절토사면지에서 내건성 식물 뿌리 생장과 T/R율은 폿트생장과 큰 차이를 보였고, 특히 T/R 율은 폿트묘보다 월등히 낮았다. 이 결과로 보아 선발된 내건성 식물은 절토사면지와 같이 척박한 토양 에서도 잘 적응할 것으로 나타나 내건성 식물의 육종 등에 이용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

본 실험은 단기간 ABA처리가 토마토 묘의 생장과 증산율, 기공 저항성 및 건조 내성에 미치는 영향 을 검토하기 위하여 수행되었다. 실험은 25일간 플러그 트레이에서 육묘한 토마토 묘를 간이 수경재배 키트에 이식하여 양액 육묘하면서 ABA처리 효과와 건조 내성을 검토하였다. 배양액에 ABA를 0.5, 1, 2, 및 3mg·L−1 의 농도로 첨가한 4개의 처리구와 무처리구를 설계하여 5일과 10일간 양액육묘한 뒤 묘소질, 엽온, 증산율, 기공확산 저항성을 측정하였다. 건조 내성을 검토하기 위한 수분 스트레스 처리는 PEG 8,000을 이용하여 -5bar로 조정한 고삼투압 용액에 ABA처리 직후의 묘를 이식한 뒤, 묘의 위조 정도를 조사하였다. 저농도(0.5와 1mg·L−1) 의 ABA처리구에서 묘소질은 경경을 제외하고 대부분의 생육에서 통계적 유의차는 나타나지 않았으나, 2와 3mg·L−1의 농도에서는 지상부의 생장이 억제되었다. 근권부의 생장은 1mg·L−1의 농도처리에서만 뿌리의 건물 중과 생체중, 전표면적, 근장, 근경, root tip수 모두가 유의적으로 증가하였으며, 그 외의 처리농도에서는 일부의 생육지표를 제외하고는 유의적 차이가 나타나지 않았다. ABA처리 농도가 증가함에 따라 기공확산 저항성은 증가하고 증산율은 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 또, ABA처리는 묘의 건조 내성을 증가시켜 ABA가 첨가된 배양액에서 5일 또는 10일간 육묘한 묘를 -5bar 용액에 치상하였을 경우 대조구는 치상후 10시간 후부터 묘의 위조가 시작되어 20시간 후에는 모든 개체가 위조하였으나, ABA처리구는 치상 30시간 후부터 위조가 시작되어 50시간이 경과해서야 모든 개체가 위조되었다. 또, 수분 스트레스처리로 위조된 묘를 재관수하였을 경우 ABA 0.5와 1mg·L−1처리구는 100%, 그 이상 농도 처리구에서도 50%이상 회복되었으나, 무처리구의 경우는 전개체가 고사하였다. 이상의 결과 토마토 육묘과정에서 저농도의 ABA처리를 통한 근권부의 생장 촉진과 건조 내성 증진 가능성이 시사되었으나, 상업적 활용을 위해서는 추가적인 검토가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

1. 가뭄저항성 작물의 내건성 검정 및 위해성 평가에 활용하고자 가뭄모의시설을 구축하였다.2. 선행연구조사를 통해 가뭄모의시설은 토양으로 유출입되는 물을 조절할 수 있는 토양저장부와 강우 센서의 감지에 의해 자동으로 개폐가 되는 비가림막으로 구성하였다. 3. 시설은 적정관수구와 가뭄처리구로 나누어 식물체의 재배실험을 수행하였으며, 각 처리구의 토양수분함량의 변화와식물체의 표현형질의 분석을 통해 본 시설이 가뭄환경의 조성을 용이하게 조절함을 확인하였다.

We screened the drought tolerant maize using seventeen maize genotypes from different sources, nine inbred genotypes from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (B73, CML103, CML228, CML277, CML322, CML69, Ki3, Ki11, and NC350), three Southeast Asian genotypes (DK9955, LVN-4, and 333), and five Korean hybrids (Cheongdaok, Gangdaok, Ilmichal, Kwangpyeongok, and Pyeonganok). We evaluated anthesis-silking interval (ASI), leaf senescence (LS), ears per plant (EPP), tassel length (TL), and fresh weight (FW) at silking date. According to ASI and LS examination, CML103 and Kill were drought tolerant genotypes, wheareas Ki3 and 333 were drought susceptible. EPP, TL, and FW differed according to drought resistance. Grain yield was correlated strongly with ASI, but moderately with LS. Difference in ASI between drought-stressed (DS) and well-watered (WW) conditions was less than three days in CML228, CML103, Cheongdaok, NC350, B73, Ki11, CML322, and Kwangpyeongok, whereas that of Ki3, Pyeonganok, and Gangdaok was more than 6.5 days. We concluded that CML228, CML103, Cheongdaok, NC350, B73, Ki11, CML322, and Kwangpyeongok are drought tolerant genotypes, whereas Ki3, Pyeonganok, and Gangdaok are drought susceptible.

The purpose of this study was to assess drought tolerance of groundcover plants for extensive green roof. Form July to November 2013, plant height, chlorophyll content, soil moisture, evapotranspiration and survival rate was measured. As results, after unirrigation started, Aster koraiensis reached 0% of soil moisture earliest followed by Sedum kamtschaticum, Hemerocallis fulva, Hylotelephium spectabile, Iris sanguinea, Hosta longipes and control. Among the plants, A. koraiensis withered earliest on 19th day of unirrigation experiment, followed by H. longipes and H. fulva (27th day); and I. sanguinea (29th day). S. kamtschaticum and H. spectabile survived even after 120th day of the experiment. As for chlorophyll content, I. sanguinea showed constant values in early stage than rapidly decreased right before its withering. Chlorophyll content of A. koraiensis and H. fulva showed rapid decrease from the beginning, while that of H. spectabile and S. kamtschaticum showed continuous reduction for first 30 days and the reduction was slowed down since then. In conclusion, H. longipes, I. sanguinea and H. fulva were found most applicable for extensive green roof considering scenic aspect.

Leaf water and osmotic potential, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and electrolyte leakage were measured to evaluate tolerance to water stress in wild-type (WT) and transgenic tobacco plants (TR) expressing copper/zink superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in chloroplasts. Leaf water potential of both WT and TR plants decreased similarly under water stress condition. However, leaf osmotic potential of TR plants more negatively decreased in the process of dehydration, compared with WT plants, suggesting osmotic adjustment. Stomatal conductance (Gs) in WT plants markedly decreased from the Day 4 after withholding water, while that in TR plants retained relatively high values. Relatively low chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate under water stress were shown in WT plants since 4th day after treatment. In particular, damage indicated by electrolyte leakage during water stress was higher in WT plants than in TR plants. On the other hand, SOD and APX activity was remarkably higher in TR plants. These results indicate that transgenic tobacco plants expressing copper/zink superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in chloroplasts improve tolerance to water stress.

Drought stress has detrimental effects on the seedling development, vegetative/ reproductive growth, photosynthesis, root proliferation, anthesis, anthesis-silking interval (ASI), pollination and grain yield in maize. Typically, two weeks before silking through pollination are an important time in maize life. Here we reviewed the effects of drought stress on growth, physiological/ molecular researches for drought tolerance, and breeding to genomics in maize. Drought stress during kernel development increases leaf dying and lodging, decreases grain filling period and grain yield. Physiological factors of drought stress/ effects are water content, water deficits, and water potential. Nowdays molecular marker assisted breeding method is becoming increasingly useful in the improvement of new germplasm with drought stress tolerance.

Plants are constantly exposed to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, which include pathogens and conditions of high salinity, low temperature, and drought. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a major plant hormone involved in signal transduction pathways that mediate the defense response of plants to abiotic stress. Previously, we isolated Ring finger protein gene (CaRING1) frompepper(Capsicum annuum), which is associated with resistance to bacterial pathogens, accompanied by hypersensitive cell death. Here, we report a new function of the CaRING1 gene product in the ABA-mediated defense responses of plants to drought stress. The expression of the CaRING1 gene was induced in pepper leaves treated with ABA or exposed to drought or NaCl. CaRING1-overexpressing (OX) transgenic plants showed enhanced sensitivity to ABA during the seedling growth and establishment. Furthermore, these plants were more tolerant to drought stress than the wild-type plants because of enhanced stomatal closure and increased expression of stress-responsive genes. Together, these results suggest that the CaRING1 acts as positive factor for drought tolerance in Arabidopsis by modulating ABA-mediated stomatal closing and gene expression.

In plants, lipoxygenases (LOXs) are involved in various physiological processes, including defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our previous study has shown that pepper 9-LOX gene, CaLOX1, plays a crucial role in cell death due to pathogen infection. Here, the function of CaLOX1 in response to osmotic, drought, and high salinity was examined using CaLOX1-overexpressing (CaLOX1-OX) Arabidopsis plants. Changes in the temporal expression pattern of the CaLOX1 gene were observed when pepper leaves were treated with drought and high salinity, but not with abscisic acid (ABA), the primary hormone in response to drought stress. During seed germination and seedling development, CaLOX1-OX plants were more tolerant to ABA, mannitol, and high salinity than wild-type plants. In contrast, expression of the ABA-responsive marker genes RAB18 and RD29B was higher in CaLOX1-OX Arabidopsis plants than in wild-type plants. In response to high salinity, CaLOX1-OX plants exhibited enhanced tolerance, compared with wild-type, which is accompanied by decreased accumulation of H2O2 and high levels of RD20, RD29A, RD29B, and P5CS gene expressions. Similarly, CaLOX1-OX plants were also more tolerant than wild-type plants to severe drought stress. H2O2 production and relative increase of lipid peroxidation were lower, and the expression of COR15A, DREB2A, RD20, RD29A, and RD29B was higher in CaLOX1-OX plants, relative to those of wild-type plants. Taken together, our results indicate that CaLOX1 plays a crucial role in plant stress responses by modulating the expression of ABA- and stress-responsive marker genes, lipid peroxidation, and H2O2 production.

The maize genome is complex with exceeding the levels of intra-specific variation, repetitive DNA content, and allelic content observed between many species. Because of tremendous diversity and variants, maize is considered as a forefront crop development and estimation of molecular markers for agricultural trait in genetics and breeding. Using quantitative trait loci (QTL) and marker assisted breeding (MAS), molecular breeders are able to development of drought tolerance and grain yield in maize genotype. To study QTL congruency, a meta QTL analysis including results from eight-teen QTL publications for grain yield and drought tolerance were considered. Among them, we assembled 420 QTLs for abscisic acid (ABA) concentration, anthesis silking interval (ASI), days to flower, days to silk, ear number, kernel number, grain number and grain yields, involved in drought tolerance and grain yield. The meta QTL analysis revealed significant evidence for linkage of these traits to 39 different segments as candidates regions on maize genome. A total of 571 marker was selected as QTL or integrated QTL markers for narrowing down the QTL region into specific functionally relevant candidates. The results of meta QTL analysis helped to refine the genomic regions of agricultural traits, interest described and provided the closest flanking markers.

Salt and drought stresses affect virtually every aspect of plant physiology and metabolism and thus limiting the productivity of crop plants worldwide. Salt and drought tolerance and adaptation in rice has been improved by engineering various genes related to transcription, signaling, accumulation of antioxidants and compatible solutes etc. Previously, we have produced 2,000 non-GM mutants induced by Tos17 in rice. We analyzed >2,000 flanking sequences of newly transposed Tos17 copies by the adaptor-ligation PCR method. We also identified significantly up- or down-regulated genes under drought, salt, or ABA stress in rice based on expression microarray data, which previously were performed from leaf at different developmental stages and conditions. For screening and characterizing the salt or drought tolerance mutations by extensive phenotypic analysis as well as the functional analysis of genes, we selected 133 mutant lines. To evaluate rice phenotypic traits under abiotic stress condition, we plan to investigate phenomics, which integrates technologies such as photonics, biology, computers, and robotics.