Abstract:
Solanum tuberosum generally known as potato is a globally important food crop with
high nutritional value. It belongs to Solanaceae family of plants also known as
nightshades. It is a drought sensitive crop in comparison to many other plants and in
extreme cases drought can contribute to adverse outcomes by negatively influencing
survival, biomass production and crop yield. To withstand drought stress plants has
evolved several defense strategies that involve morphological as well as genetic changes.
For thorough understanding of plant reactions to these stresses, understanding of genetic
basis of plant defensive mechanisms against theses stresses is vital. Many transcription
factors which control the regulation of numerous genes related with drought has been
investigated. The DREB genes are vital genes that are expressed under drought
conditions in different plants. This family of transcriptions factors includes distinctive as
well as vital proteins that participate in abiotic limitation reactions and resistance in
plants. In our recent study we aim to identify and analyze the (DREB) Dehydration
Responsive Element Binding genes from Potato. For this purpose many DREB genes
were identified in Solanaceae as well as other plant species with help of literature review.
From those identified genes DREB3 from model plant Nicotiana tobaccum and DREB2
from Glycine max are amplified in 7 potato varieties (Desiree, Asterix, Sante, Hermes,
2005-1, Roko, Lady Rosetta) for the purpose of identification of DREB genes in potato.
Protein modeling of amplified gene sequences was done by using ITASSER software.
Later Phylogenetic tree was generated using MegaX software for the purpose of finding
evolutionary relationship between DREB gene sequences which were retrieved by in
silico analysis. This study will offer foundation for future investigation of these genes in
Potato as well as other plants. After identification of DREB genes in potato further
studies can be performed to increase drought tolerance of potato as well as other related
plants by genetically engineering DREB genes.
