Identification of Drought-Responsive Transcripts in Kodo Millet (Paspalumscrobiculatum L)

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the major limiting factors reducing crop yield worldwide. Identification of drought tolerance genes from tolerant plants would help to transform susceptible plants. Kodo millet is known to be highly drought and salt tolerant crop as ascertained by antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes levels. Responses to abiotic stress like drought are mediated by multiple gene products. In an effort to gain an insight into nature of genes expressed/repressed during applied drought stress, cDNA library was constructed from 6 days' drought stressed seedlings. 5 ESTs differentially expressed under drought stress were characterized by DDRT-PCR and their expression profile was assessed by real time RT-PCR. The expression levels indicated over expression of 3 ESTs and down regulation of 2 ESTs.