The Optimal Timing of Abscisic Acid Treatment in Arabidopsis Under Drought and Salt Stress

Author

Khelia Gihozo, Lynn University

Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Capstone

Granting Institution

Lynn University

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Program

Biological Science

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Wayne Law

Abstract

As climate change intensifies, harsh environmental conditions, such as increased drought and salt levels, will pose significant challenges to agricultural productivity globally. It is important to develop strategies for plants to tolerate these adverse conditions. This study aims to investigate how well the timing of abscisic acid (ABA) treatment can promote resistance to salt and drought in Arabidopsis thaliana grown on Murashige and Skoog agar medium. The study evaluates both wild-type and transgenic lines overexpressing the DREB2A gene, a transcriptional activator involved in the stress response of plants. Plants were exposed to drought and salt stress as they matured. Followed by supplementation of ABA on days 0, 3, and 6. The results were recorded for a 21-day period of treatment focusing on physiological responses, including leaf count and above-ground biomass, as indicators of plant growth and adaptation to stressors over time. The analyses show that early treatment in plants subjected to drought stress had more resistance than those treated later. However, the physiological responses of ABA and drought stress versus ABA and salt stress vary in different treatment groups. Overall, the comparisons between treated groups indicate the effectiveness of applying ABA to mitigate the detrimental impacts of drought and salinity stress, highlighting the limiting influence of environmental stressors on plant growth. Our goal is to help farmers who want to grow crops that can resist difficult environmental circumstances using plant physiology to maintain food security and sustainability in changing climatic conditions.

Recommended Citation

Gihozo, K. (2024). The optimal timing of abscisic acid treatment in Arabidopsis under drought and salt stress [Masters capstone, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/416