The three key C_4-specific photosynthesis genes of maize,ZmPEPC,ZmPPDK and ZmNADP-ME,hold great promise for increasing photosynthetic rate of C3 type plants.To investigate the effects of overexpression of those C_4-specific photosynthesis genes on photosynthetic rate and drought tolerance of C3 plants,we obtained Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing ZmPEPC(phosphoenopyruvate carboxylase),ZmPPDK(pyruratedikinase),ZmNADP-ME(NADP-malic enzyme),ZmPEPC+ZmPPDK,and ZmPPDK +ZmNADP-ME,respectively,using agroba...
transformation.Wild type and transgenic Arabidopsis plants were firstly grown under well-water con-ditions and then under drought stress at flowering stage by stopping watering.Samples were collectedat 1dbefore water stress,5dand 10dafter water stress,and