This technology is based on the discovery that the RING finger protein gene CaGIR1 in peppers acts as a negative regulator that suppresses drought stress tolerance. By inhibiting the expression or protein activity of this gene, we can enhance a plant's drought resistance. The expression inhibitor used is a recombinant VIGS vector containing CaGIR1 cDNA.
As global warming and desertification exacerbate water shortages, drought has become a primary cause of stunted crop growth and significant yield loss. While plants respond to dehydration through stomatal closure and abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation, the ABA signaling pathway is not fully understood, and research into drought-related genes and their application in transgenic plants remains limited.
This technology confirms that suppressing the CaGIR1 protein (SEQ ID NO: 1) via Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) allows plants to better withstand water-deficient conditions. Transgenic plants with enhanced drought resistance can be developed in peppers or Arabidopsis. This approach can be applied to breeding drought-tolerant pepper varieties, improving horticultural crops in greenhouses or open fields where water usage must be minimized, and developing plants for greening arid regions. By silencing a single gene, we can reduce reliance on irrigation and ensure stable yields even during droughts.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research on drought and salt tolerance signaling through protein stabilization regulation in chili peppers.
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