Transcriptional and metabolic changes in drought tolerant potato expressing the TPS1 gene of yeast

To increase drought tolerance of potato, transgenic plants expressing the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS1) gene of yeast were isolated. The transgenic potato plants exhibited improved drought tolerance, however, grow slower than the wild-type. To understand the molecular basis of this phenomenon, transcriptomes of the leaves of wild-type and TPS1-transgenic plants were analysed using a potato microarray. In addition, protein, starch, and sugar content of the leaves were investigated.