Improvements of Fertility Restoration in Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Cotton by Enhanced Expression of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) Gene

• Published in: Journal of plant growth regulation Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 420 - 429
• Main Authors: Bibi, Noreen, Yuan, Shuna, Zhu, Yunguo, Wang, Xuede
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.06.2014; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Biomedical and Life Sciences; cotton; cyanide-resistant respiration; cytoplasmic male sterility; Fertility; genes; glutathione dehydrogenase (ascorbate); glutathione transferase; Hybrids; Hydrogen peroxide; introgression; Life Sciences; meiosis; microspores; Oxidative stress; oxygen; peroxidase; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant tissues; Respiration; restorer lines; superoxide dismutase; Reduced glutathione; Fertility restoration; Cyanide-resistant respiration; Cotton; transferase; Cytoplasmic male sterility; Glutathione
• ISSN: 0721-7595; 1435-8107
• DOI: 10.1007/s00344-013-9393-x

The molecular and biochemical bases of fertility restoration were explored using cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) Ji A, maintainer Ji B, and two cotton hybrids RF₁ and QF₁, developed by crossing CMS with DES-HAF277 (normal restorer) and Zheda strong restorer (transgenic restorer with GST gene), respectively. Transcript levels of both exogenous and endogenous GST genes were high in anther as compared to other plant tissues of the QF₁ hybrid. Moreover, the expression of the GST gene during meiosis (stage 2) and microspore development (stage 3) was highest in the QF₁ hybrid. The ratio of cyanide-resistant respiration to total respiration was also high in the QF₁ hybrid during stage 2 and stage 3 as compared to the RF₁ hybrid. O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂ contents increased more during stage 2 in the CMS line and stage 3 in the RF₁ hybrid compared to the maintainer and QF₁ hybrid. Similarly, MDA contents were at a maximum in CMS followed by the RF₁, QF₁, and the maintainer line during the whole course of anther development. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GST, GR, and DHAR) and contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH and ASA) were elevated in the QF₁ hybrid as compared to the RF₁ hybrid, during the whole course of anther development. The present study suggests that the introgression of the GST gene into restorer lines could be a potential way to enhance restoration capability by maintaining the equilibrium between oxidative stress and scavenging enzymes, and might favor healthier development of microspores.