Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) genes have been irrefutably linked to the
osmotic stress response since their initial discovery in maturing cotton seeds. They
have since been reported from a multitude of other organism where their occurrence
is often associated with general responses to abiotic stress. Many studies have been
conducted using LEA genes in over expression strategies to improve abiotic stress resistance.
Of the known classes of LEAs, the group 1 LEAs have been widely reported,
in plants, to only occur in seeds during late stages of development. Their expression
coincides with the seeds acquisition of desiccation tolerance. In this thesis we present
a group 1 LEA isolated from the desiccated vegetative tissues (leaves) of the resurrection
plant Xerophyta humilis. Using E.coli and Arabidopsis we attempted to use
XhLEA to improve salt and water deficit stress-responses, respectively. To this end
we conducted soil-drought trials on two independent transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing
XhLEA under a drought inducible-promoter and monitored their responses
as compared to untransformed WT (Col-0 ) controls. Solid substrate E.coli growth
assays and liquid media growth curves under both stress and unstressed conditions
were conducted. We found no obvious beneficial effect through the expression of
XhLEA in either of the organisms. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/98113 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Denkhaus, Erik |
| Contributors | Peters, S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Genetics. Institute for Plant Biotechnology (IPB). |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 45 pages : illustrations |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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