Over-expression of TsCBF1 gene confers improved drought tolerance in transgenic maize

The DREB/CBF transcription factors play important roles during low temperature, drought, and high-salt stress in higher plants. In this paper, we transferred TsCBF1 gene from a dicotyledonous halophyte Thellungiella halophila into the monocotyledonous crop maize (Zea mays L.). PCR, Southern blot, and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the TsCBF1 gene had been integrated into the genome of transgenic plants and was expressed in their progeny. After 14 days of drought stress treatments, transgenic plants showed improved drought tolerance with higher Relative Water Content (RWC), higher solute accumulation, and less cell damage compared with wild-type (WT) plants. Most importantly, they showed shorter anthesis-silking interval (ASI) and produced much higher grain yield than WT under drought stress. The results indicate that the TsCBF1 gene conferred enhanced drought tolerance to maize plants and may have utility for improving tolerance to other abiotic stresses as well.