Method for increasing stress-resistance to a plant

Abstract

The present invention enables production of a plant resistant to environmental stresses including drought and high salt concentration. The invention increases stress resistance to a plant by increasing galactinol content in the plant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for increasing stress resistance to a plant which comprises introducing a glactinol synthetase gene into the plant body.  
     
     
         2 . The method for increasing stress resistance to a plant according to  claim 1  wherein the glactinol synthetase gene is the following gene (a) or (b): 
 (a) a gene encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,  
 (b) a gene encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence differing from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 by deletion, substitution or addition of at least one or more amino acids, and having galactinol synthetic activity.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method for increasing stress resistance to a plant according to  claim 1  wherein said galactinol synthetase gene is the following gene (c) or (d): 
 (c) a gene encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2,  
 (d) a gene encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence differing from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution or addition of at least one or more amino acids, and having galactinol synthetic activity.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method for increasing stress resistance to a plant according to  claim 1  wherein galactinol content in the plant body is increased.  
     
     
         5 . The method for increasing stress resistance to a plant according to  claim 1  wherein galactinol synthetic activity in the plant body is improved.  
     
     
         6 . A method for increasing stress resistance to a plant which comprises increasing galactinol content in the plant body.  
     
     
         7 . A method for increasing stress resistance to a plant which comprises improving galactinol syntheteic acitvity in the plant body.  
     
     
         8 . A method for increasing stress resistance to a plant which comprises excessively expressing the following protein (e) or (f) in the plant body: 
 (e) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1,    (f) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence differing from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 by deletion, substitution or addition of at least one or more amino acids, and having galactinol synthetic activity.    
     
     
         9 . A method for increasing stress resistance to a plant which comprises excessively expressing the following protein (g) or (h) in the plant body: 
 (g) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2,    (h) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence differing from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution or addition of at least one or more amino acids, and having galactinol synthetic activity.