Overexpression of zinc finger (GpZF) transcription factor promotes drought tolerance in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.).

• Overexpression of GpZF improve drought tolerance in transgenic grass pea. • Antioxidant enzymes activity in transgenic lines was higher than the wild-type plants. • GpZF was without QALGGH motif in grass pea. The genes encoding Cys2/His2-type zinc finger proteins constitute a large family in higher plants consisting of a family of plant transcription factors. GpZF encodes a Cys2/His2-type zinc finger protein. This study identified a novel zinc finger transcription factor gene(GpZF) in the grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) involved in response to drought stress. GpZF was cloned in grass pea, and relative gene expression analysis showed that the GpZF gene in independent transgenic lines was more under mild and severe treatments (50% and 25% field capacity-FC). Furthermore, GpZF overexpressing grass pea results in more relative water content, free proline, soluble sugars, and chlorophyll content than the wild-type (WT) plants under 50% and 25% FC stresses, suggesting that this gene may improve drought tolerance by stress-responsive genes. Moreover, after exposure to drought stress, transgenic plants decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H 2 O 2 content by increasing significant enzymatic antioxidant activities. The GpZF overexpression has resulted in higher antioxidant enzymes activities (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) of transgenic plants than those of the WT plants. Furthermore, in 25% FC, the independent transgenic lines revealed higher survival rates and dry weight than the WT plants. In conclusion, GpZF positively affects drought stress tolerance in Lathyrus sativus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]