Multiprotein- bridging factor 1c from Triticum aestivum L. confers tolerance to high-temperature stress in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum

Enhancement of crop productivity under various abiotic stresses is a major objective for researchers in the current scenario. Heat stress adversely affects yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. To cope up with stress conditions, plants respond by overexpressing their heat stress-related genes and transcription factors. Wheat is one of the world's most staple food crops which is highly sensitive to heat stress especially during anthesis stage, thereby affecting both yield and quality. During abiotic stress, plant heat shock factors (Hsfs) play a crucial role and confers stress tolerance. In this study, we have isolated highly heat stress-responsive transcription factor from wheat cultivar HD3086, after checking the gene expression using real-time PCR in contrasting wheat genotypes (HD2894 and HD3086). The candidate gene (TaMBF1c) was cloned in pJET1.2/blunt vector and then further into binary vector followed by transformation in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) via Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation. The transgenic tobacco plants raised were validated for heat stress tolerance using different physiological and biochemical assays (RWC, MDA, proline content and chlorophyll content). The gene expression was checked in transgenic plants using qRT-PCR. At T-1 generation, seeds of transgenic plants were germinated on MS selection media and a segregation inheritance of 3:1 (resistance: susceptible) ratio was obtained which, followed the Mendelian inheritance pattern. For future research work, TaMBF1c would be taken in different crop plants to develop heat stress tolerant crops for sustainable development under globally changing climate conditions. Key messageTaMBF1c was isolated from thermo tolerant wheat cultivar (HD3086), proved its role in providing heat stress tolerance to transgenic tobacco plants.