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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2014, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (6): 293-303.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb20140635

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances in genetic engineering for drought tolerance in plants

XU Li-ming1,ZHANG Zhen-bao2,LIANG Xiao-ling1,LU wen1,ZHANG Chen-lu1,HUANG Feng-zhu1,WANG lei1,ZHANG Su-zhi1   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130,China;
    2.Agricultural Bureau of Wulian District, Rizhao 262300, China
  • Received:2013-11-11 Online:2014-12-20 Published:2014-12-20

Abstract: Drought is a major abiotic stress that significantly reduces crop yield. The use of high throughput screening techniques has accelerated the identification of the gene series that are involved in drought tolerance. Some of the more important genes have already been transferred into plants by genetic transformation in order to activate specific or broad pathways related to drought tolerance. More recent advances have improved our understanding of drought-resistant regulation by controlling the expression pattern of drought-tolerant genes. We now better understand the complex regulatory network that regulates drought stress response and so are able to develop practical approaches for engineering drought tolerance in plants. This article reviews these advances in genetic engineering, including such factors as identifying the genes encoding signaling molecules, transcription factors, small RNA and the gene expressions involved in osmotic substances biosynthesis, polyamines biosynthesis and ROS scavenging. Current problems and future applications are also discussed.

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