Cloning of WDREB2 Transcription Factor in pBI121 Expression Vector and Transfer to Tomato In Order To Improve Cold Stress Resistance

Abiotic stress such as cold and drought has adverse effects on plants growth and development. Abiotic stress resistance is one of the most important goals in plant breeding. This goal can be achieved through transcription factor gene transfer to plants. Recent studies show many successes in improving abiotic stress resistance by use of transcription factor gene transfer. The objective of the research was to clone wheat alpha isoform of WDREB2، effective abiotic stress responsive element، in suitable expression vector، and its transfer to tomato in order to improve cold stress resistance. The gene was cloned in expression vector pBI121، and transferred to tomato through Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58 strain. In order to admit transformation، DNA extraction and PCR with specific primer was done on transgenic and nontransgenic tomato plants. Verification of WDREB2 expression was done by RT- PCR after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Bioassay test of transgenic plants under cold stress treatment was performed. Phonotypical comparison between transgenic and normal plants under cold stress confirmed cold stress resistance of transgenic lines.