L.F. Santos, J.A.L. Senna, M.G.C. Costa, F.C. Alvim
Published: March 13, 2024
Genet. Mol. Res. 23(1): GMR19176
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr19176
Cite this Article:
L.F. Santos, J.A.L. Senna, M.G.C. Costa, F.C. Alvim (2024). A paraquat-inducible protein B-like (pqiB) gene from Chromobacterium violaceum confers tolerance to paraquat in transgenic tobacco. Genet. Mol. Res. 23(1): GMR19176. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr19176
About the Authors
L.F. Santos, J.A.L. Senna, M.G.C. Costa, F.C. Alvim
Corresponding Author
Email: alvim@uesc.br
ABSTRACT
The Chromobacterium violaceum pqiB gene can be functionally expressed in plant cells and used for the development of paraquat-tolerant crops. Paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride) is a contact non-selective herbicide, widely used in agriculture in several countries. Proteins induced by paraquat have been the subject of great interest because of the possibility of conferring herbicide resistance when introduced into crops. In this work, we analyzed a paraquat-inducible B-like protein (cvpqiB) gene, isolated from Chromobacterium violaceum, for its capacity to confer tolerance to paraquat in transgenic tobacco. A DNA fragment containing the pqiB coding sequence was isolated from the C. violaceum ATCC12472 genome, inserted into the pCAMBIA1390 vector, under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, and used in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Havana. Analysis of the regenerants revealed the incorporation of cvpqiB into the tobacco genome and its transmission in a Mendelian fashion to the progeny of transgenic plants. Sensitivity assays using tobacco leaves demonstrated that the transgenic plants were tolerant to paraquat with concentrations up to 50 µM, whereas the wild-type (WT) plants exhibited intolerance to concentrations higher than n1 µM of the herbicide. Paraquat-treated leaves of the transgenic plants also exhibited significantly reduced electrolyte leakage and their chlorophyll content was not impacted as observed in the WT plants. Besides, in contrast to the WT, negligible amounts of hydrogen peroxide were detected in paraquat-treated seedlings of the transgenic plants, as revealed by 3,3’-diaminobenzidine staining. Collectively, these results indicate that the cvpqiB gene is functional in plants and may be further used in the genetic engineering of crop plants aiming at paraquat tolerance.
Key words: Crop development, Herbicide, Hydrogen peroxide, Plant resistance.