Zinc finger transcription factor induces the drought, salt and cold stress tolerance in transgenic cotton

Abstract

The present study focuses on the genetic transformation of a local variety of cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i>) with (glyphosate tolerance gene) GTgene and zinc finger transcription (GaZnF) which is responsive against abiotic stresses and also locally isolated from <i>Gossypium arboreum</i>. <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation procedure showed the 4.66% transformation efficiency and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified the GaZnF and GTGene in the transgenic plants. Transgenic plants were found to be surviving healthy and fresh after 5 and 10-days of drought stress. Transgenic cotton were showing better growth after 200 mM NaCl and 4°C of cold stress for 4 days. Transgenic cotton showed a significant increase in height and root to shoot length ratio under drought, NaCl and cold stress. Similarly, other growth parameters such as % reduction in biomass and ratio of root, stem and leaf to the total plant weight were significantly improved in transgenic plants as compared to the wild type (WT). Leaf relative water content was higher in transgenic plants under 5 and 10 day drought, 200 mM NaCl and 4°C of cold stress. Our observations conclude that GaZnF transcription factor is effective for crop improvement under drought, salt and cold stress.