Date of Award

August 2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Genetics and Biochemistry

Committee Member

Hong Luo

Committee Member

Haiying Liang

Committee Member

Guido Schnabel

Abstract

Inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), a second messenger molecule and a very important component of phosphoinositide (PI) signaling, participates in plant growth and response to various abiotic stresses. Strict control of the IP3 balance is critical for normal plant development. Type I Inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (InsP 5-ptase) functions to hydrolyze soluble inositol phosphates, such as IP3. It has previously been reported that transgenic Arabidopsis, a dicotyledonous plant species overexpressing InsP 5-ptase exhibit a sharply declined IP3 level, but enhanced tolerance to various environmental adversities, indicating an important role the InsP 5-ptase plays in regulating phosphoinositide (PI) signaling to mediate plant stress responses. To investigate how InsP 5-ptase is involved in stress responses in monocots, we have generated transgenic creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.), an important C3 cool-season turfgrass that constitutively expresses a mammal type I InsP 5-ptase. Data obtained revealed that overexpression of InsP 5-ptase gene alters plant development and leads to enhanced plant tolerance to drought, salt and heat stresses associated with improved physiological parameters. Further characterization of the InsP 5-ptase transgenic plants will allow a better understanding of InsP 5-ptase-mediated plant stress response, providing information to develop novel biotechnology approaches for crop genetic improvement.

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