Transgenic Tobacco-Bearing p-cV-ChMTIIGFP Gene Accumulated More Lead Compared to Wild Type

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution, including lead (Pb), is a common global pollution problem. Transgenic (p-cVChMTIIGFP) and non-transgenic (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Petit Havana SR-1) tobacco plants grown for 6 weeks in pot experiments containing 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg Pb kg·soil-1 were investigated. Lead toxicity symptoms, chlorophyll content, dry weight, and Pb concentration of plants were measured in order to evaluate phytoremediative potential of the plants. Neither plant showed any toxicity symptoms during the growth period. The p-cV-ChMTIIGFP tobacco plant accumulated more Pb (5.6 mg·kg-1) than the wild type tobacco (3.6 mg·kg-1). Therefore, the transgenic p-cV-ChMTIIGFP tobacco has promising potential for reclaiming slightly lead-contaminated soils.