Evaluation of Transgenic Pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. cv. Manak] Plants Over-Expressing OsLecRLK Gene for Salt Stress Tolerance Through Physio-Biochemical Analysis

Abstract

Aim: Abiotic stresses especially salinity and drought affect the yield of crops worldwide. The yield achieved on farmer fields and the potential yield differ significantly. Reduced agricultural yields are the result of salt stress's effects on important processes like photosynthesis, protein and lipid metabolism, and more. Study Design: CRD (Completely Randomized Design) and three replications for each parameter. Place and Duration of Study: The studies were carried out in the Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics CCS HAU, Hisar, Haryana. Methodology: In the present research, transgenic pigeon pea (cv. Manak) plants were evaluated for the efficacy of OsLecRLK gene in salt stress tolerance. Physio-biochemical analysis was done to assess the efficacy of transgene via subjecting wild type and selected T1 transgenic plants to 75 mM salt stress. Treatments, genotypes and interaction between treatments and genotypes were compared using critical difference (CD) at 5% level of significance with OPSTAT programme. Results: The transgenic line outperformed the wild type plants in terms of sustaining higher levels of proline, total soluble sugar, chlorophyll, relative water, peroxidase, and catalase. Additionally, transgenic lines showed a considerably lower MDA level and membrane injury index than wild type plants, suggesting that they were less susceptible to salt stress. Conclusion: L-19 outscored all other transgenic lines in every parameter examined, and it can be used to create transgenic pigeon pea plants that can withstand salt stress. Transgenic lines carrying single copy of gene performed better in comparison to lines carrying two copies of gene followed by wild type.