T1 Lines Research Articles

Generation of Wheat Transcription Factor FOX Rice Lines and Systematic Screening for Salt and Osmotic Stress Tolerance.

Transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. In this study, we collected 1,455 full-length (FL) cDNAs of TFs, representing 45 families, from wheat and its relatives Triticum urartu, Aegilops speltoides, Aegilops tauschii, Triticum carthlicum, and Triticum aestivum. More than 15,000 T0 TF FOX (Full-length cDNA Over-eXpressing) rice lines were generated; of these, 10,496 lines set seeds. About 14.88% of the T0 plants showed obvious phenotypic changes. T1 lines (5,232 lines) were screened for salt and osmotic stress tolerance using 150 mM NaCl and 20% (v/v) PEG-4000, respectively. Among them, five lines (591, 746, 1647, 1812, and J4065) showed enhanced salt stress tolerance, five lines (591, 746, 898, 1078, and 1647) showed enhanced osmotic stress tolerance, and three lines (591, 746, and 1647) showed both salt and osmotic stress tolerance. Further analysis of the T-DNA flanking sequences showed that line 746 over-expressed TaEREB1, line 898 over-expressed TabZIPD, and lines 1812 and J4065 over-expressed TaOBF1a and TaOBF1b, respectively. The enhanced salt and osmotic stress tolerance of lines 898 and 1812 was confirmed by retransformation of the respective genes. Our results demonstrate that a heterologous FOX system may be used as an alternative genetic resource for the systematic functional analysis of the wheat genome.

Generation of inheritable and "transgene clean" targeted genome-modified rice in later generations using the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is becoming an important genome editing tool for crop breeding. Although it has been demonstrated that target mutations can be transmitted to the next generation, their inheritance pattern has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we describe the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of four different rice genes with the help of online target-design tools. High-frequency mutagenesis and a large percentage of putative biallelic mutations were observed in T0 generations. Nonetheless, our results also indicate that the progeny genotypes of biallelic T0 lines are frequently difficult to predict and that the transmission of mutations largely does not conform to classical genetic laws, which suggests that the mutations in T0 transgenic rice are mainly somatic mutations. Next, we followed the inheritance pattern of T1 plants. Regardless of the presence of the CRISPR/Cas9 transgene, the mutations in T1 lines were stably transmitted to later generations, indicating a standard germline transmission pattern. Off-target effects were also evaluated, and our results indicate that with careful target selection, off-target mutations are rare in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated rice gene editing. Taken together, our results indicate the promising production of inheritable and “transgene clean” targeted genome-modified rice in the T1 generation using the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Creation of fragrant rice by targeted knockout of the OsBADH2 gene using TALEN technology

Fragrant rice is favoured worldwide because of its agreeable scent. The presence of a defective badh2 allele encoding betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH2) results in the synthesis of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), which is a major fragrance compound. Here, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) were engineered to target and disrupt the OsBADH2 gene. Six heterozygous mutants (30%) were recovered from 20 transgenic hygromycin-resistant lines. Sanger sequencing confirmed that these lines had various indel mutations at the TALEN target site. All six transmitted the BADH2 mutations to the T1 generation; and four T1 mutant lines tested also efficiently transmitted the mutations to the T2 generation. Mutant plants carrying only the desired DNA sequence change but not the TALEN transgene were obtained by segregation in the T1 and T2 generations. The 2AP content of rice grains of the T1 lines with homozygous mutations increased from 0 to 0.35-0.75mg/kg, which was similar to the content of a positive control variety harbouring the badh2-E7 mutation. We also simultaneously introduced three different pairs of TALENs targeting three separate rice genes into rice cells by bombardment and obtained lines with mutations in one, two and all three genes. These results indicate that targeted mutagenesis using TALENs is a useful approach to creating important agronomic traits.

Transgenic rice expressing a codon-modified synthetic CP4-EPSPS confers tolerance to broad-spectrum herbicide, glyphosate.

Highly tolerant herbicide-resistant transgenic rice was developed by expressing codon-modified synthetic CP4--EPSPS. The transformants could tolerate up to 1% commercial glyphosate and has the potential to be used for DSR (direct-seeded rice). Weed infestation is one of the major biotic stress factors that is responsible for yield loss in direct-seeded rice (DSR). Herbicide-resistant rice has potential to improve the efficiency of weed management under DSR. Hence, the popular indica rice cultivar IR64, was genetically modified using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with a codon-optimized CP4-EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene, with N-terminal chloroplast targeting peptide from Petunia hybrida. Integration of the transgenes in the selected rice plants was confirmed by Southern hybridization and expression by Northern and herbicide tolerance assays. Transgenic plants showed EPSPS enzyme activity even at high concentrations of glyphosate, compared to untransformed control plants. T0, T1 and T2 lines were tested by herbicide bioassay and it was confirmed that the transgenic rice could tolerate up to 1% of commercial Roundup, which is five times more in dose used to kill weeds under field condition. All together, the transgenic rice plants developed in the present study could be used efficiently to overcome weed menace.

High-throughput generation of an activation-tagged mutant library for functional genomic analyses in tobacco.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an ideal model system for molecular biological and genetic studies. In this study, activation tagging was used to generate approximately 100,000 transgenic tobacco plants. Southern blot analysis indicated that there were 1.6 T-DNA inserts per line on average in our transformed population. The phenotypes observed include abnormalities in leaf and flower morphology, plant height, flowering time, branching, and fertility. Among 6,000 plants in the T0 generation, 57 displayed obvious phenotypes. Among 4,105 lines in the T1 generation, 311 displayed abnormal phenotypes. Fusion primer and nested integrated PCR was used to identify 963 independent genomic loci of T-DNA insertion sites in 1,257 T1 lines. The distribution of T-DNA insertions was non-uniform and correlated well with the predicted gene density along each chromosome. The insertions were biased toward genic regions and noncoding regions within 5kb of a gene. Fifteen plants that showed the same phenotype as their parent with a dominant pattern in the T2 generation were chosen randomly to detect the expression levels of genes adjacent to the T-DNA integration sites by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Fifteen candidate genes were identified. Activation was observed in 7 out of the 15 adjacent genes, including one that was located 13.1kb away from the enhancer sequence. The activation-tagged population described in this paper will be a highly valuable resource for tobacco functional genomics research using both forward and reverse genetic approaches.

High production of plant type levan in sugar beet transformed with timothy (Phleum pratense) 6-SFT genes

Levan, a type of fructan, is an oligomer or polymer with mainly a β(2,6)-linked fructose chain attached to sucrose. We introduced two timothy genes, PpFT1 and PpFT2, coding for two homologous sucrose:fructan 6-fructosyltransferases into sugar beet. Sugar beet produces a high concentration of sucrose, a starting substrate in fructan synthesis, in the root. Among transgenic T1 lines, we obtained sugar beet transformants that accumulated large amounts of β(2,6)-linked levans (about 20 to 75mgg−1 FW) in the roots. The transformed sugar beet plants possessing PpFT1 or PpFT2 produced linear levans with different degrees of polymerization (DP). Namely, the PpFT1 transformants accumulated mainly high DP levans including those with DP>40, while the PpFT2 transformants accumulated levans with DP between 3 and 40. Chromatograms showed that PpFT2 produces pure β(2,6)-linked linear levans compared with fructans synthesized by PpFT1. These levans belong to the high DP class of plant fructans, but have much shorter DP than that of levans generally produced by microorganisms.

OsSUV3 transgenic rice maintains higher endogenous levels of plant hormones that mitigates adverse effects of salinity and sustains crop productivity.

BackgroundThe SUV3 (suppressor of Var 3) gene encodes a DNA and RNA helicase, which is localized in the mitochondria. Plant SUV3 has not yet been characterized in detail. However, the Arabidopsis ortholog of SUV3 (AT4G14790) has been shown to be involved in embryo sac development. Previously, we have reported that rice SUV3 functions as DNA and RNA helicase and provides salinity stress tolerance by maintaining photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery. Here, we report further analysis of the transgenic OsSUV3 rice plants under salt stress.FindingsThe transgenic OsSUV3 overexpressing rice T1 lines showed significantly higher endogenous content of plant hormones viz., gibberellic acid (GA3), zeatin (Z) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in leaf, stem and root as compared to wild-type (WT), vector control (VC) and antisense (AS) plants under salt (200 mM NaCl) stress condition. A similar trend of endogenous plant hormones profile was also reflected in the T2 generation of OsSUV3 transgenic rice under defined parameters and stress condition.ConclusionsIn response to stress, OsSUV3 rice plants maintained plant hormone levels that regulate the expression of several stress-induced genes and reduce adverse effects of salt on plant growth and development and therefore sustains crop productivity.

The QQS orphan gene of Arabidopsis modulates carbon and nitrogen allocation in soybean.

The genome of each species contains as high as 8% of genes that are uniquely present in that species. Little is known about the functional significance of these so-called species specific or orphan genes. The Arabidopsis thaliana gene Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) is species specific. Here, we show that altering QQS expression in Arabidopsis affects carbon partitioning to both starch and protein. We hypothesized QQS may be conserved in a feature other than primary sequence, and as such could function to impact composition in another species. To test the potential of QQS in affecting composition in an ectopic species, we introduced QQS into soybean. Soybean T1 lines expressing QQS have up to 80% decreased leaf starch and up to 60% increased leaf protein; T4 generation seeds from field-grown plants contain up to 13% less oil, while protein is increased by up to 18%. These data broaden the concept of QQS as a modulator of carbon and nitrogen allocation, and demonstrate that this species-specific gene can affect the seed composition of an agronomic species thought to have diverged from Arabidopsis 100 million years ago.

Stable resistance to Wheat streak mosaic virus in wheat mediated by RNAi

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is one of the major wheat viruses found in the Great Plains of the USA. Cultural practices are the primary methods of disease management, though not fully effective. Although genetic resistance is available, it is temperature sensitive and is sometimes closely linked with traits having negative agronomic effects. Alternative approaches to viral resistance are clearly needed. RNA interference (RNAi) has been shown to play a role in viral defense response and has been successfully used as a biotechnological tool to preprogram viral resistance in transgenic plants. In this work, a portion of the coat protein of WSMV was used as a hairpin construct and was co-transformed with pAHC20-bar to elicit viral resistance. Eleven WSMV RNAi independent transgenic events were obtained. Thirteen T1 lines were resistant as evident by the lack of viral RNA within the tissue. Beginning in the T2 generation, single-plant lineages were selected, selfed, and evaluated for resistance and presence of the transgene until the T5 generation. Families were then evaluated for the presence of the transgene, presence of the selectable marker, and WSMV resistance. Each of the lines in the T5 generation were resistant to the virus. Generational selection has maintained expression of the transgene and resistance to WSMV.

MYMIV-AC2 protein suppresses hairpin-induced gene silencing in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi

Construct encoding self-complementary ‘hairpin’ RNA (hpRNA) has been shown as an effective trigger of post-translational gene silencing. Gene silencing can be effectively inhibited by virus-encoded silencing suppressors that have been acquired evolutionarily to surmount silencing and allow infection. Here, we show that AC2, the silencing suppressor protein of Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus (MYMIV), can inhibit the hpRNA-induced gene silencing in planta. Phytoene desaturase (PDS)-silenced transgenic lines were generated using PDS-hairpin gene-silencing construct in Nicotiana. The photobleach phenotype was observed in different T1 and T2 PDS-silenced lines indicating that the hairpin gene-silencing construct can efficiently down-regulate or silence the endogenous gene activity, and that the silencing is stably inherited over generations. The analysis of abundance of the PDS transcripts showed that the degree of silencing ranged from 20 to 70 % in different T0 and T1 transgenic lines. Upon introduction of MYMIV-AC2 in the silenced PDS transgenic lines, by genetic hybridization, the PDS expression was restored in F1 hybrids. The F1 lines (♀PDS X ♂MYMIV-AC2) showed the normal green phenotype instead of the photobleached phenotype indicating that introgression of MYMIV-AC2 in PDS silenced T0 lines, suppresses the hairpin gene-silencing. Our findings suggest that hpRNA vector can efficiently and stably induce gene silencing in plants and that MYMIV-AC2 can inhibit this silencing. This is the first report where we put forward that the dual system of hpRNA and MYMIV-AC2 suppressor can serve as an efficient switch for turning off and turning on gene expression, with potential applications in gene function analysis.

Phloem-specific expression of the lectin gene from Allium sativum confers resistance to the sap-sucker Nilaparvata lugens

Rice production is severely hampered by insect pests. Garlic lectin gene (ASAL) holds great promise in conferring protection against chewing (lepidopteran) and sap-sucking (homopteran) insect pests. We have developed transgenic rice lines resistant to sap-sucking brown hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) by ectopic expression of ASAL in their phloem tissues. Molecular analyses of T0 lines confirmed stable integration of transgene. T1 lines (NP 1-2, 4-3, 11-6 & 17-7) showed active transcription and translation of ASAL transgene. ELISA revealed ASAL expression was as high as 0.95% of total soluble protein. Insect bioassays on T2 homozygous lines (NP 18 & 32) revealed significant reduction (~74-83%) in survival rate, development and fecundity of brown hoppers in comparison to wild type. Transgenics exhibited enhanced resistance (1-2 score) against brown hoppers, minimal plant damage and no growth penalty or phenotypic abnormalities.

Sina and Sinb genes in triticale do not determine grain hardness contrary to their orthologs Pina and Pinb in wheat.

BackgroundSecaloindoline a (Sina) and secaloindoline b (Sinb) genes of hexaploid triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) are orthologs of puroindoline a (Pina) and puroindoline b (Pinb) in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). It has already been proven that RNA interference (RNAi)-based silencing of Pina and Pinb genes significantly decreased the puroindoline a and puroindoline b proteins in wheat and essentially increased grain hardness (J Exp Bot 62:4025-4036, 2011). The function of Sina and Sinb in triticale was tested by means of RNAi silencing and compared to wheat.ResultsNovel Sina and Sinb alleles in wild-type plants of cv. Wanad were identified and their expression profiles characterized. Alignment with wheat Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a alleles showed 95% and 93.3% homology with Sina and Sinb coding sequences. Twenty transgenic lines transformed with two hpRNA silencing cassettes directed to silence Sina or Sinb were obtained by the Agrobacterium-mediated method. A significant decrease of expression of both Sin genes in segregating progeny of tested T1 lines was observed independent of the silencing cassette used. The silencing was transmitted to the T4 kernel generation. The relative transcript level was reduced by up to 99% in T3 progeny with the mean for the sublines being around 90%. Silencing of the Sin genes resulted in a substantial decrease of secaloindoline a and secaloindoline b content. The identity of SIN peptides was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The hardness index, measured by the SKCS (Single Kernel Characterization System) method, ranged from 22 to 56 in silent lines and from 37 to 49 in the control, and the mean values were insignificantly lower in the silent ones, proving increased softness. Additionally, the mean total seed protein content of silenced lines was about 6% lower compared with control lines. Correlation coefficients between hardness and transcript level were weakly positive.ConclusionsWe documented that RNAi-based silencing of Sin genes resulted in significant decrease of their transcripts and the level of both secaloindoline proteins, however did not affect grain hardness. The unexpected, functional differences of Sin genes from triticale compared with their orthologs, Pin of wheat, are discussed.

Antisense RNA approach targeting Rep gene of Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus to develop resistance in soybean

The Yellow mosaic disease is caused by Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) belonging to the genus Begomovirus of the family Geminiviridae. Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is a major constraint to the production of soybean in South-East Asia. In India, yield losses of 10–88% had been reported due to YMD of soybean. An effort has been made to generate resistant soybean plants, by a construct targeting replication initiation protein (Rep) gene sequences of MYMIV. A construct containing the sequences of Rep gene (566 bp) in antisense orientation was used to transform cotyledonary node explants of three soybean cultivars (JS 335, JS 95-60 and NRC 37). Transformation efficiencies of 0.2, 0.21 and 0.24% were obtained with three soybean cultivars, JS 335, JS 95-60 and NRC 37, respectively. The presence of transgene in T1 plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. The level of resistance was observed by challenge inoculation with the virus in T1 lines. The inheritance of transgene showed classical Mendelian pattern in six transgenic lines.

OsSUV3 dual helicase functions in salinity stress tolerance by maintaining photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. IR64)

To overcome the salinity-induced loss of crop yield, a salinity-tolerant trait is required. The SUV3 helicase is involved in the regulation of RNA surveillance and turnover in mitochondria, but the helicase activity of plant SUV3 and its role in abiotic stress tolerance have not been reported so far. Here we report that the Oryza sativa (rice) SUV3 protein exhibits DNA and RNA helicase, and ATPase activities. Furthermore, we report that SUV3 is induced in rice seedlings in response to high levels of salt. Its expression, driven by a constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in IR64 transgenic rice plants, confers salinity tolerance. The T1 and T2 sense transgenic lines showed tolerance to high salinity and fully matured without any loss in yields. The T2 transgenic lines also showed tolerance to drought stress. These results suggest that the introduced trait is functional and stable in transgenic rice plants. The rice SUV3 sense transgenic lines showed lesser lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and H2 O2 production, along with higher activities of antioxidant enzymes under salinity stress, as compared with wild type, vector control and antisense transgenic lines. These results suggest the existence of an efficient antioxidant defence system to cope with salinity-induced oxidative damage. Overall, this study reports that plant SUV3 exhibits DNA and RNA helicase and ATPase activities, and provides direct evidence of its function in imparting salinity stress tolerance without yield loss. The possible mechanism could be that OsSUV3 helicase functions in salinity stress tolerance by improving photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery in transgenic rice.

Enhanced resistance to stripe rust disease in transgenic wheat expressing the rice chitinase gene RC24

Stripe rust is a devastating fungal disease of wheat worldwide which is primarily caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici. Transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expressing rice class chitinase gene RC24 were developed by particle bombardment of immature embryos and tested for resistance to Puccinia striiformis f.sp tritici. under greenhouse and field conditions. Putative transformants were selected on kanamycin-containing media. Polymease chain reaction indicated that RC24 was transferred into 17 transformants obtained from bombardment of 1,684 immature embryos. Integration of RC24 was confirmed by Southern blot with a RC24-labeled probe and expression of RC24 was verified by RT-PCR. Nine transgenic T1 lines exhibited enhanced resistance to stripe rust infection with lines XN8 and BF4 showing the highest level of resistance. Southern blot hybridization confirmed the stable inheritance of RC24 in transgenic T1 plants. Resistance to stripe rust in transgenic T2 and T3 XN8 and BF4 plants was confirmed over two consecutive years in the field. Increased yield (27-36%) was recorded for transgenic T2 and T3 XN8 and BF4 plants compared to controls. These results suggest that rice class I chitinase RC24 can be used to engineer stripe rust resistance in wheat.

Overexpression of the Gossypium barbadense Actin-Depolymerizing Factor 1 Gene Mediates Biological Changes in Transgenic Tobacco

The function of a member of the actin-depolymerizing factor family from Gossypium barbadense, GbADF1, was investigated. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) lines expressing GbADF1 were produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Southern and northern blot analyses showed that GbADF1 was successfully incorporated as a single copy into the tobacco genome and stably expressed in three lines of T1 transgenic tobacco plants. Biological changes were detected in these transgenic lines, wherein GbADF1 transgenic seedlings exhibited shorter hypocotyls along with fewer root hairs than those of control plants. Moreover, guard cells of leaves of the transgenic plants were induced to close stomata, while flowering was delayed 5 days in T1 lines compared to those of empty vector transgenic control plants. Segregation of GbADF1 in the T2 generation fits the expected 3:1 ratio corresponding to a single dominant gene. Subsequently, GbADF1 was fused to the green fluorescent protein gene to generate a fusion expression vector. Transient expression analysis indicated that this fusion protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoskeleton of epidermal cells of onion. These results suggest that actin-depolymerizing factor 1 gene from G. barbadense plays an important role in the process of plant cell morphogenesis.

Over-expression of the PaAP1 gene from sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) causes early flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana

A homologue of SQUAMOSA/APETALA1, designated PaAP1, was isolated from Prunus avium by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The full length of PaAP1 cDNA is 753bp, and it codes for a polypeptide of 250 amino acid residues. Sequence comparison revealed that PaAP1 belongs to the MADS-box gene family. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PaAP1 shared the highest identity with SQUA/AP1 homologues from Prunus serrulata. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis showed that PaAP1 was expressed at high levels in petal, sepal, style, and flower buds, which was slightly different from the expression pattern of AP1 of Arabidopsis thaliana. To characterize the functions of PaAP1, we assessed Arabidopsis transformed with 35S::PaAP1. A total of 8 transgenic T1 lines with an early flowering phenotype were obtained, and a 3:1 segregation ratio of flowering time was observed in the T2 generation of 4 lines. This study provides the first functional analysis of an SQUA/AP1 homolog from P. avium and suggests that PaAP1 is potentially useful for shortening the juvenile period in sweet cherry.

HvCKX2 gene silencing by biolistic or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in barley leads to different phenotypes

BackgroundCKX genes encode cytokinin dehydrogenase enzymes (CKX), which metabolize cytokinins in plants and influence developmental processes. The genes are expressed in different tissues and organs during development; however, their exact role in barley is poorly understood. It has already been proven that RNA interference (RNAi)-based silencing of HvCKX1 decreased the CKX level, especially in those organs which showed the highest expression, i.e. developing kernels and roots, leading to higher plant productivity and higher mass of the roots [1]. The same type of RNAi construct was applied to silence HvCKX2 and analyze the function of the gene. Two cultivars of barley were transformed with the same silencing and selection cassettes by two different methods: biolistic and via Agrobacterium.ResultsThe mean Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of Golden Promise was 3.47% (±2.82). The transcript level of HvCKX2 in segregating progeny of T1 lines was decreased to 34%. The reduction of the transcript in Agrobacterium-derived plants resulted in decreased CKX activity in the developing and developed leaves as well as in 7 DAP (days after pollination) spikes. The final phenotypic effect was increased productivity of T0 plants and T1 lines. Higher productivity was the result of the higher number of seeds and higher grain yield. It was also correlated with the higher 1000 grain weight, increased (by 7.5%) height of the plants and higher (from 0.5 to 2) numbers of spikes.The transformation efficiency of Golden Promise after biolistic transformation was more than twice as low compared to Agrobacterium. The transcript level in segregating progeny of T1 lines was decreased to 24%. Otherwise, the enzyme activity found in the leaves of the lines after biolistic transformation, especially in cv. Golden Promise, was very high, exceeding the relative level of the control lines. These unbalanced ratios of the transcript level and the activity of the CKX enzyme negatively affected kernel germination or anther development and as a consequence setting the seeds. The final phenotypic effect was the decreased productivity of T0 plants and T1 lines obtained via the biolistic silencing of HvCKX2.ConclusionThe phenotypic result, which was higher productivity of silenced lines obtained via Agrobacterium, confirms the hypothesis that spatial and temporal differences in expression contributed to functional differentiation. The applicability of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for gene silencing of developmentally regulated genes, like HvCKX2, was proven. Otherwise low productivity and disturbances in plant development of biolistic-silenced lines documented the unsuitability of the method. The possible reasons are discussed.

Ectopic overexpression of peach GDP-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase and GDP-d-mannose-3′,5′-epimerase in transgenic tobacco

We created transgenic tobacco overexpressing peach GDP-d-mannose pyrophosphorylase (PpGMPH) and GDP-d-mannose-3′,5′-epimerase (PpGME), which are involved in the main l-ascorbate (Asc) biosynthetic pathway in plants. Despite an apparent increase in enzymatic activity in the PpGMPH-overexpressing primary transgenic (T0) lines, no significant increase in Asc pool size was observed in leaves. For PpGME-overexpressing T0 lines, Asc pool size was also unchanged, although transcriptional overexpression was confirmed. To reinforce the biosynthetic pathway from d-mannose-1-phosphate to GDP-l-galactose, we further created PpGMPH- and PpGME-double overexpressing crossed transgenic (dOx T1) lines. Transcriptional overexpression of PpGMPH and PpGME transgenes was confirmed, and the Asc content in the dOx T1 lines was slightly elevated in young leaves, albeit not significantly. Western blot analyses revealed protein amounts of GMPH and GME were similar among dOx T1, parental T0 and non-transgenic (SR1) lines in three tissue types tested: leaves, flower buds and immature fruits. Moreover, a similar amount of GMPH and GME proteins were detected in young leaves (YL) and old leaves (OL), although Asc content in YL is roughly double as that in OL. In vitro assay using recombinant PpGME suggested the equilibrium of GME reaction is unfavorable to forward Asc biosynthesis at this step. Finally, to investigate substrate availability in relation to Asc pool size, we added exogenous GDP-d-mannose (5 mM) or l-galactose (5 mM) to tobacco leaf discs; the former resulted in no increase in Asc content, whereas a significant increase was observed in the latter, not only in the dOx T1 lines, but also in the original line SR1. Similar treatments were also conducted under high light, which resulted in a further increase in the increment of Asc content in the l-galactose-fed discs irrespective of transgene expression level. Taken together, both l-galactose availability and light rather than upper biosynthetic gene expression levels of GMPH/GME are critical determinant of Asc content in tobacco leaves, indicating complex modulation of this compound.

Transformation of chickpea lines with Cry1X using in planta transformation and characterization of putative transformants T1 lines for molecular and biochemical characters

The transgenic plants of the chickpea (cicer arietinum) cv. KAK-2 expressing a Bt gene, were generated using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation system. A tissue culture-independent transformation method, in planta which targets the A. tumefaciens to the apical meristem was used in this study. The protocol involves in planta inoculation of the embryo axes of the germinating seeds and allowing them to grow into seedlings ex vitro. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated the putative transgenic nature of theT1 generation plants. Bioassays against major pests of the chickpea, Helicoverpa armigera revealed several T1 plants that perform well against the larvae. This revealed that 43 of T1 plants harbor the transgene. The seeds of 43 T1 plants were allowed to continue into the next generation amplified gene of interest in most of the plants tested. Enzyme Linked-Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), PCR and Bioassays was used to identify the high expressing plants. These results suggest that the Bt gene was functional in the transgenic chickpea and was being expressed. The study also showed that the chickpea plants harboring the cry1X gene were resistant toHelicoverpa armigera. Key words: Chickpea, Helicoverpa armigera, transformation, in-planta, tissue culture, synthetic cry gene. .