| Abstract Detail
Temperature Responses Bukovnik, Urska [1], Momcilovic, Ivana [2], Fu, Jianming [2], Prasad, P.V. Vara [2], Ristic, Zoran [3]. Heat tolerance and the expression of chloroplast protein synthesis elongation factor, EF-Tu, in spring wheat. Chloroplast protein synthesis elongation factor, EF-Tu, is a protein that plays a key role in protein synthesis by promoting the GTP-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the A-site of the ribosome. Chloroplast EF-Tu is also implicated in heat tolerance in some plants. In maize and winter wheat, this protein is upregulated under heat stress. In this study, we investigated the expression of EF-Tu in spring wheat and tested the hypothesis that cultivars with contrasting tolerance to heat stress differ in the expression of this protein under stress conditions. Heat tolerance and the expression of EF-Tu were examined in mature plants (at flowering stage) of three Australian cultivars, Kukri, RAC-875, and Excalibur, experiencing a 16-d-long heat treatment (36/30ËšC, day/night). Heat tolerance was assessed by examining the stability of thylakoid membranes, measuring chlorophyll content, and assessing plant growth and yield traits (shoot dry mass, plant height, tiller and kernel number, and kernel mass). Relative levels of EF-Tu were determined after 7 d of heat treatment. Excalibur showed the highest and Kukri the lowest tolerance to heat stress. Heat treatment induced accumulation of EF-Tu in Excalibur and RAC-875 but Excalibur showed greater accumulation of this protein. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that chloroplast EF-Tu plays an important role in heat tolerance. Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Kansas State University, Agronomy, 2004 Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506, USA 2 - Kansas State University, Agronomy 3 - USDA-ARS, Plant Science and Entomology Research Unit
Keywords: heat stress EF-Tu spring wheat.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract Session: P Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007 Time: 8:00 AM Number: P08029 Abstract ID:2123 |