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Plant Sciences

Western University

Drought

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Characterization Of Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein Like (Spl), And Its Role In Drought Stress Tolerance In Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa)., Alexandria K. Hanly Jun 2020

Characterization Of Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein Like (Spl), And Its Role In Drought Stress Tolerance In Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa)., Alexandria K. Hanly

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Traditional breeding involving Medicago sativa (alfalfa), has resulted in minimal yield increases. Moreover, extreme environmental conditions threaten to further limit production. Strategies that make use of molecular tools – such as small non-coding RNA, miR156 – represent an innovative means by which to influence tolerance to abiotic stress. miR156 functions, at least in part, through the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) family of transcription factors. In this study, the role of SPL9 in regulating alfalfa development and drought tolerance is evaluated. Examination of alfalfa plants with RNAi-mediated SPL9 (SPL9-RNAi) showed that plant height, stem thickness, and internode …


Microrna156: A Short Rna With A Major Role In Abiotic Stress Tolerance In Alfalfa, Biruk Ayenew Feyissa Feb 2020

Microrna156: A Short Rna With A Major Role In Abiotic Stress Tolerance In Alfalfa, Biruk Ayenew Feyissa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The highly conserved plant microRNA156, miR156, affects various aspects of plant development and stress response by silencing SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors. Our understanding of the role of miR156 and its mode of action in alfalfa’s (Medicago sativa L.) response to drought and flooding is still elusive, and thus this study was aimed at filling this gap in knowledge. Physiological parameters, metabolite and transcriptional analyses showed an interplay between miR156/SPL13 and WD40-1/DFR to mitigate drought stress. Low to moderate levels of miR156 overexpression suppressed SPL13 and increased WD40-1 to fine-tune the DIHYDROFLAVONOL-4-REDUCTASE (DFR) level for …