Overexpression of full-length and partial DREB2A enhances soybean drought tolerance

Juliane  Prela  Marinho, Renata  Fuganti Pagliarini, Mayla  Daiane,  Correa  Molinari, Juliana  Marcolino-Gomes, André  Luís,  Hartmann Caranhoto, Silvana  Regina,  Rockenbach  Marin, Maria  Cristina  Neves de  Oliveira, José  Salvador  Simoneti  Foloni, Carlos  Lasaro  Pereira  de Melo, Satoshi   Kidokoro, Junya Mizoi, Norihito   Kanamori, Kazuko  Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, Kazuo  Nakashima, Alexandre  Lima Nepomuceno, and Liliane Marcia Mertz-Henning

Agronomy Science and Biotechnology; September 16, 2021 on-line (Vol. 8, 2022)

Abstract

Soybean is an important commodity worldwide. Abiotic conditions can adversely disturb crop growth and final yield. The transcription factor Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding Proteins 2 (DREB2) act as a regulator of drought-responses. This study aimed to characterize soybean plants genetically modified with GmDREB2A;2 FL and GmDREB2A;2 CA for molecular, physiological, and agronomic responses, at different developmental periods. Results showed that seedlings from GmDREB2A;2 FL event presented lower growth reduction under osmotic treatment during germination. The GmDREB2A;2 FL and GmDREB2A;2 CA events showed improved performance in experiments of water deficit imposed in the vegetative period and higher rates in physiological parameters. In the reproductive period, there was a trend of higher yield compounds in GM GmDREB2A;2 FL event when compared to other genotypes and treatments. It was suggested that GmDREB2A;2 FL event presented superior performance due to the higher expression levels of the cisgene and drought-induced genes.