Proline accumulation in pollen grains as potential target for improved yield stability under salt stress.
Seed yield, a major determinant for the commercial success of grain crops, is dramatically reduced by environmental stresses, such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Salinity, in particular, is a major problem for crop yield known to affect about 20% of all arable land and cause huge economic losses worldwide. Flowering plants are particularly sensitive to environmental stress during sexual reproduction, and even a short exposure to stressing conditions can severely hamper reproductive success, and reduce crop yield. Since proline is required for pollen fertility and accumulates in plant tissues in response to different abiotic stresses, a role of proline in pollen protection under salt stress conditions can be envisaged. In this project, we aim to specifically raise the levels of proline in Arabidopsis pollen grains, to evaluate the feasibility of this biotechnological strategy to stabilize seed yield under saline conditions.