Physiological and photochemical evaluation of pepper methionine sulfoxide reductase B2 (CaMsrB2) expressing transgenic rice in saline habitat

Two pepper methionine sulfoxide reductase B2 (CaMsrB2) gene expressing transgenic rice lines (L-8 and L-23) were interrogated with respect to their physiological and photochemical attributes along with control (WT, Ilmi) as a standard against varying levels of salt concentration which are 75 mM, 150 mM and 225 mM. Against various levels of salt (NaCl) concentration, recurring detrimental effects of extreme salt stress was observed and more pronounced in the wild type plants as compared to our transgenic lines. As the exacerbated effects of salinity is responsible for pushing the plants to their ecological tolerance, our transgenic lines performed well uplifted in different realms of physiology and photochemistry such as relative water content (RWC = 60–75%), stomatal conductance (gs = 70–190 mmolm−2s−1), performance index (PIABS = 1.0–4.5), maximal photochemical yield of PSII (FV/FM = 0.48–0.72) and chlorophyll content index (CCI = 5–7.2 au) in comparison to the control. Relative gene expression, ion analysis and antioxidants activity were analyzed in all treatments to ensure the hypothesis obtained from data of physiology and photochemistry. Photosynthetic apparatus is known to lose energy in various forms such as NPQ, DIO/CS, damages of reaction center (FV/FO) which are the markers of poor health were clearly decreased in the L-23 line as compared to L-8 and WT. Present study revealed the protruding tolerance of L-23 and L-8 transgenic lines with L-23 line in the lead in comparison to control and L-8 transgenic lines. [Display omitted] •CaMsrB2 expressing transgenic rice were photochmcially evaluated.•Relative expression was tested in saline habitat.•Two copy lines (L-23) expressing and performed well in abiotic stress.