Synergistic effect of C2H2 type Zinc-finger protein with LEA promoter to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica juncea

The Cys2/His2 (C2H2) type zinc finger (ZF), and Late-embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are associated with various cellular processes that play an important role in plant development and abiotic stress tolerance. The study was designed to evaluate the role of P-LEA1:BcZF1 to enhance abiotic stress tolerance in Brassica juncea. The Group 4 LEA, LEA4-1, and ZF proteins isolated from B. napus and B. carinata respectively; were expressed in B. juncea cv. varuna. Expression of ZF protein in B. juncea under the control of LEA promoter showed increased tolerance against multiple abiotic stresses: salt, oxidative and drought. The increased level in the stability of total cellular membrane was observed in the transgenic lines (ZL1, ZL2 and ZL4) of B. juncea. The phenotypic analysis of transgenic lines also showed increased level of root and shoot length as compared to wild type (WT) plants under abiotic stresses. Our study suggest that cDNA encoding BcZF1 and the promoter LEA1 function as regulatory molecules involved in stabilizing and modulating the optimal plant growth under various abiotic stresses.