Comparative Study of Transgenic (DREB1A) and Non-transgenic Wheat Lines on Relative Water Content, Sugar, Proline and Chlorophyll under Drought and Salt Stresses

Wheat is the most cultivated food crop in Pakistan. Biotic and abiotic stresses severely affect theyield of this crop and require special attention to rectify the production loss. Among various abiotic stresses,drought and soil salinity have the most adversarial effect on wheat production. In this study the T2 transgenic(At-DREB1A) and non-transgenic line of lasani-08 from single transformation event was exposed to 15days drought and different levels of salt concentrations separately. Four parameters i.e. sugar contents, prolinecontents, chlorophyll contents and relative water contents were recorded and compared in transformed andnon-transformed plants. It was observed that under drought and salt stresses, proline contents, sugar contents,chlorophyll contents and relative water contents (RWC) were significantly higher in transgenic plants ascompared to non-transgenic plants. From obtained results it is concluded that, increase level of RWC, proline,sugar and chlorophyll in transgenic plants contributed in enhance drought and salt tolerance.