Table 1.
Primers used for the amplification of OsZEP, OsWRKY-45, OsHsfA, OsSKC-1, OsAKT-1, OsCAX, OsTPC-1, OsGMST-1, OsPIP1-1, OsPIP1-2, OsHsp-70, OsSIK-1 and OsCPK-21 genes.
Fig 1.
Confirmation of suppression of OsSYT-5 gene expression in all putative transgenic lines (T0) (A) and three selected T2 rice lines (B) using real-time PCR.
Fig 2.
Effect of suppression of OsSYT-5 gene on leaf area (A), number of primary and secondary branches per panicle (B), and number of stomatal files on the abaxial side of leaves (C) of 57-d-old wild type and transgenic lines. Values are mean ± SE (**P, 0.01). Thirty leaves from 10 plants of each transgenic line and wild type were used for leaf area measurement. Values are mean ± SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 3.
Transgenic rice lines with silenced OsSYT-5 gene produce a deeper and thicker root system compared to the WT-type plants.
The root system of 8-week-old control and transgenic plants (A). Comparison of the root length (B), the number of root branches per plant (C), and root weight per plant (D). Ten 8-week-old plants were used for each line. Values are mean ±SE (**P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 4.
Phenotype of wild type and transgenic rice lines before water deficit experiment (A), after 15 days of water deficit stress (B), after 37 days of stress (C), and phenotype of recovered plants after 10 days of re-watering (D). 3-week old T2 transgenic lines and 3-week old wild type were used for the experiment.
Fig 5.
Effects of suppression of OsSYT-5 gene on the photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (B), transpiration rate (C), and WUE (D) in the rice transgenic plants grown under water deficit stress for 22 days. Five measurements were carried out for each plant, and 10 plants were used for each line. Values are mean ± SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 6.
The water loss rate of detached leaves (A) and Relative Water Content (RWC) of detached leaves (B), produced by WT type and transgenic lines with silenced OsSYT-5 gene. 51-days-old plants grown under water deficit stress for 30 days were used for water loss experiments and 90-days-old plants grown under regular watering conditions were used for RWC measurements. Each data point represents the mean of duplicate measurements. Values are mean ±SE (*P, 0.05). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 7.
A to D, Increased panicle number (A), panicle length (B), the number of grains (filled +half-filled + unfilled) per panicle (C), and the number of filled grains per panicle (D) in the 51-day-old transgenic rice compared to that of wild-type in regular conditions in the greenhouse. Values are mean ±SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 8.
A to D, Increased panicle number (A), panicle length (B), the number of total grains (filled +half-filled + unfilled) per panicle (C), and the number of filled grains per panicle (D) in the 51-day-old transgenic rice compared to that of wild-type after 30 days of water deficit stress. Values are mean ±SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 9.
Tiller number of plants in WT type and transgenic rice lines in the seedling stage (A) and in the stage of maturity (B). The phenotype of the panicles in the transgenic rice and wild-type (C) and grain yield in the transgenic rice compared to that of the wild-type under both regular and 30 days of drought conditions (D). Ten plants were used for each line. Values are mean ±SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 10.
The number of viable pollen (pollen viability) of ten wild-type and transgenic rice with silenced OsSYT-5 gene.
The viable pollen ratio between transgenic and wild-type plants was measured before and after 30 days of the water deficit stress experiment. Values are mean ±SE (**P, 0.01). Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 11.
Effect of OsSYT-5 gene silencing on ABA level in transgenic rice lines at the stage of 3-month-old young plants grown under regular watering conditions and after 30 days of water deficit stress.
Values are mean ± SE (*P, 0.05, **P, 0.01). *, ** indicates a significant difference in the level of ABA compared to the wild type under both regular and drought stress conditions. Data were analyzed statistically by one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) with post-hoc Tukey HSD (Honestly significant difference) using SAS software.
Fig 12.
Summary of trends to up- or down-regulation of OsZEP, OsWRKY-45, OsHsfA, OsSKC-1, OsAKT-1, OsCAX, OsTPC-1, OsGMST-1, OsPIP1-1, OsPIP1-2, OsHsp-70, OsSIK-1 and OsCPK-21 genes in 16–4 transgenic line with silenced OsSYT-5 gene under regular (A) and water deficit conditions (B).