ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess

Abstract Number: 2658
Session = 3.18.5


TRANSGENIC MAIZE WITH ENHANCED TOLERANCE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS


Frank Van Breusegem1, Luit Slooten2, Marc Van Montagu1 and Dirk Inzé1 1) Dpt. Plant Genetics, VIB, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium 2) Lab of Biophysics, VUB, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium


Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with cellular damage resulting from environmental stresses, including chilling. Tolerance to oxidative stress correlates with an increased capacity to scavenge ROS. An important group of enzymatic scavengers are the superoxide dismutases (SOD). SOD activity appears to be limiting in some plants as overproduction of SOD enhances tolerance to photooxidative damage, O3, chilling and freezing. This research focuses on the role of the superoxide dismutases in maize during chilling stress. Transgenic lines with enhanced levels of manganese or iron SOD suffer less from oxidative damage in an in vitro assay and exhibit improved growth rates at low temperatures.

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