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Despite the increasing demand for production of recombinant proteins, only plant cell cultures are considered as the efficient systems for producing eukaryotic valuable products. Although plant cells are grown in the straightforward and simple conditions, optimization of culture conditions is crucial for a higher yield. In the present study, the establishment of transgenic tobacco hairy roots (HRs) expressing a Dermaseptin B1 recombinant antimicrobial peptide (C2-B1) is examined. Direct and indirect transformation (DT and IT) methods were applied to compare the amount of the recombinant peptide production. The integration, transcription and expression of the transgene in the HRs were confirmed by PCR, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The C2-B1 level was quantified by ELISA analysis of HRs extracts. The results of this study showed that the longer the inoculation and co-culture period, the higher the transformation efficiency. Antimicrobial activity by of crude protein extract from transgenic HR clones showed a significant (P ≤ 0.01) difference between HRs derived from DT and IT methodes methodsmethodes . Transgenic clones derived from both DT and IT methodes and grown in liquid medium showed a difference in terms of total protein content significantly. HRs derived from IT methodmethod produced a significantly higher amount of C2-B1 recombinant peptide in liquid B5 medium supplemented with sucrose.

One goal in the face of drought stress conditions is to increase growth and yield through the reduction of negative effects of stress. Vermicompost can play an effective role in plant growth and development and in reducing harmful effects of various environmental stresses on plants due to its porous structure, high water storage capacity, having hormone-like substances, plant growth regulators, and high levels of macro and micro nutrients. This study considered the physiological, biochemical, and photosynthetic responses of the chickpea to different combinations of vermicompost and water stress in a greenhouse environment. Two factors were involved, addition of vermicompost to soil at four ratios: control (100 wt% (weight percentage) soil); 10 wt% vermicompost+90% soil; 20 wt% vermicompost+80 wt% soil; 30 wt% vermicompost+70 wt% soil weight percentage, and treatment of water stress at three levels including 75, 50, and 25% of field capacity. The results showed that vermicompost had a significant effect on all traits under stress and non-stress conditions. Application of vermicompost in soil, especially at the levels of 20 and 30 wt% significantly increased all studied traits under non-stress conditions. Under moderate stress conditions, vermicompost at 30 wt% treatment resulted in a significant increase in the photosynthetic pigments, CO2 assimilation rate, internal leaf CO2 concentration, transpiration, the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry (Fv/Fm), concentrations of Ca and K in root and leaf tissues, proline and soluble protein contents in root tissues. Peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities decreased significantly with increasing proportions of vermicompost, but the activity of superoxide dismutase was not significantly different. In conclusion, the above results showed that vermicompost fertilizer had a positive effect on physiological, biochemical, and photosynthetic responses of chickpea under non-stress and moderate stress conditions, but no positive effect was determined under severe water stress.