Arabidopsis phytochelatin synthase gene overexpression and accumulation of cadmium, arsenic in tobacco

Abstract

- To analyse the partition of heavy metals in various parts of transgenic tobacco plant, accumulation of Cadmium and Arsenics was measured in shoot and root of homozygous A. thaliana phytochelatin synthase1 - transgenic tobacco lines and wild type controls. Under 50µM, 100 µM, 150µM Cd and As significant difference were observed between the wild type control and transgenic N.tabacum lines. Transgenic plants accumulated significantly increased accumulation of Cd (Cadmium) and As (arsenic) in shoots and roots compared to wild type control. The transgenic N.tabacum lines shows the noticeable enhancement in tolerance to Cadmium & Arsenic and also revealed enhanced accumulation of these heavy metals both in roots and shoots. The overall results clearly suggest that Arabidopsis thaliana phytochelatin synthase1- expressing transgenic tobacco lines exhibit higher-levels of Cadmium and Arsenic accumulation in both shoots and roots when compared to (WT) wild type control.