Drought related MYB transcription factor gene from Brassica

There is a growing interest in use of regulatory genes as an effective way of developing stress tolerant genotypes as plants respond by modulating gene expression leading to cellular homeostasis, detoxification and recovery of growth. Identification of novel transcription factor genes and their role in regulating the expression of stress induced genes will help in understanding signaling pathways leading to stress tolerance. Genetic engineering is attractive because of its potential to improve abiotic stress tolerance more rapidly as compared to traditional plant breeding. Myb gene family is represented by 190 genes in Arabidopsis but there are no reports in Brassicas so far. This book contains the first report on isolation and cloning of drought related MYB transcription factor gene from Brassica carinata using RT-PCR approach. Three sets of primers specific to Myb gene were used and the gene was successfully cloned, characterized and confirmed by plasmid DNA isolation, colony PCR, RE digestion. This description will be very helpful as the plant transformation using identified regulatory genes is encouraging and useful for developing improved cultivars for drought tolerance.