Effect of Expression of the NDB2 Heterologous Gene of Arabidopsis thaliana on Growth and Respiratory Activity of Nicotiana tabacum

Novel lines of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), highly expressing the AtNDB2 gene (NDB2 from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.), were produced with the help of agrobacterial transformation followed by a selection. The transgenic 13s line, possessing typical exterior and the AtNDB2 expression level, was compared with the initial wild type of N. tabacum regarding the parameters of growth and respiratory activity under optimal and suboptimal temperatures. It was found that the total and alternative respiration increased and the superoxide generation decreased in the 13s plants under the suboptimal temperature. The growth rate was decreased in the plants highly expressing the AtNDB2 gene in comparison with the control wild type plants, especially at the temperature below the optimum. Possible causes of the found changes are discussed.