The sulphur-rich Brazil nut 2S albumin is specifically formed in transgenic seeds of the grain legume Vicia narbonensis

Summary Epicotyl explants were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA101 to transfer a chimeric 2S albumin gene construct carried in the binary Ti plasmid vectors pGSGLUC1 or pGA472 into the grain legume Vicia narbonensis. This gene encoding the sulphur-rich Brazil nut albumin was under the control of either the CaMV 35S promoter which permits gene expression in all organs, or the Vicia faba legumin B4 promoter which elicits seed-specific gene expression. After callus formation and selection for kanamycin resistance, somatic embryos were induced which, in the case of transformation with the vector pGSGLUC1, were screened for GUS activity. Embryos that produced GUS were in addition analysed for 2S albumin formation. Selected transgenic embryos were cloned by multiple shoot regeneration. Rooted and fertile plants were obtained by grafting transgenic shoots on the appropriate seedlings. R₁ and R₂ generations were raised and analysed for GUS as well as 2S albumin gene expression.Expression of the 35S promoter/2S albumin gene fusion took place in all organs of the transgenic plants including the cotyledons of seeds, whereas seed-specific gene expression was found in transformants with the legumin promoter/2S albumin gene fusion. The 2S albumin accumulated in the 2S protein fraction of transgenic seeds and its primary translation product was processed into the 9 and 3 kDa polypeptide chains. The foreign protein was localised in the protein bodies of the grain legume. Analysis of the R₂ plants indicated Mendelian inheritance of the 2S albumin gene. In homozygous V. narbonensis plants the amounts of 2S albumin were twice that present in the corresponding heterozygous plants. Whereas only low level formation of the foreign protein was achieved if the gene was under the control of the 35S promoter, approximately 3.0% of the soluble seed protein was 2S albumin if seed-specific gene expression was directed by the legumin B4 promoter. Some of these transformants exhibited a three-fold increase in the methionine content of the salt-soluble protein fraction extracted from seeds.Abbreviations 35S cauliflower mosaic virus 35S protein gene - GUS -glucuronidase - NPTII neomycin phosphotransferase II - LeB4 Vicia faba legumin B4 gene - 2S albumin Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) 2S albumin - ER endoplasmic reticulum - rER rough endoplasmic reticulum - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography     

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and production of semilooper resistant transgenic castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Summary Semilooper resistant transgenic castor plants were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. Two castor cultivars, Jyothi and VP1 were transformed using the super-binary vector pTOK233 carrying gus A and hpt genes. Putative transformants were regenerated following selection on the hygromycin containing medium. GUS positive primary transformants, when subjected to Southern analysis, revealed stable integration of gus A into their genomes. In the T₁ generation, a monogenic segregation ratio of 3 GUS positive: 1 GUS negative plants was observed. Furthermore, transformation experiments were carried out with the Agrobacterium pSB111 super-binary vector carrying a synthetic delta endotoxin gene cryIAb and the herbicide resistance gene bar both driven by cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Putative transformants were regenerated through selection on the phosphinothricin containing medium and Basta tolerant transformants were subjected to molecular analysis. PCR analysis revealed the presence of both bar and cryIAb genes in the Basta tolerant primary transformants. Southern analysis of PCR positive plants with cryIAb probe showed a 3 Kb band upon HindIII digestion and a > 6 Kb band with BamHI digestion, thus suggesting stable integration of cryIAb intact expression cassette and independent nature of the transformants. The primary transformants subjected to ELISA disclosed varied levels of Cry protein. These transgenics expressing cryIAb – when bioassayed against freshly hatched semilooper larvae – induced substantial (> 88%) insect mortality. Southern analysis of 2T₁ plants revealed the presence of cryIAb gene, indicating stable inheritance of the transgene into the next generation. In T₁, all the Southern-positive plants for cryIAb invariably exhibited tolerance to Basta, denoting co-segregation of both bar and cryIAb genes. Transgenics, expressing cryIAb exhibited ample resistance against the castor semilooper.     

GUS基因和NPTⅡ基因表达的相关性及其在转基因棉花检测研究中的应用

利用农杆菌介导转化法,将含有35S启动子驱动NPTII基因和GUS基因以及棉纤维特异表达启动子E6驱动目的基因FB的植物表达载体转入到常规棉花R15中.重点分析了GUS基因和NPTII基因在愈伤诱导阶段、T0代及T1代转基因棉花中的表达情况.综合两个基因的表达来进行转基因棉花的阳性鉴定,可以为转基因棉花后代的纯合选育提供双重保障.7个转基因株系选育到T3代共获得株行51个,卡那霉素检测多数株行阳性率在90%以上,其中21个株行阳性率达100%.     

Transgenic barley by particle bombardment. Inheritance of the transferred gene and characteristics of transgenic barley plants

Summary Transgenic barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kymppi) were obtained by particle bombardment of various tissues. Immature embryos and microspore-derived cultures were bombarded with gold particles coated with plasmid DNA carrying the gene coding for neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII), together with plasmid DNA containing the gene for -glucuronidase (GUS).Bombarded immature embryos were grown to plants without selection and NPTII activity was screened in small plantlets. One plant proved to be transgenic (T₀). This chimeric plant passed the transferred nptII gene to its T₁ progeny. The presence of the nptII gene was demonstrated by the PCR technique and enzyme activity was analyzed by an NPTII gel assay. Four T₀ spikes and 15 T₁ offspring were transgenic. The integration and inheritance was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Transgenic T₂ and T₃ plants were produced by isolating embryos from green grains of transgenic T₁ and T₂ plants, respectively and growing them to plants. After selfing, the ratio of transgenic to non-transgenic T₂ offspring was shown to follow the rule of Mendelian inheritance. The general performance of transgenic plants was normal and no reduction in fertility was observed.Microspore-derived cultures were bombarded one and four weeks after microspore isolation. After bombardment, cultures were grown either with or without antibiotic selection (geneticin ^R or kanamycin). When cultures were grown without selection and regenerated plants were transferred to kanamycin selection in rooting phase, one out of a total of about 1500 plants survived. This plant both carried and expressed the transferred nptII gene. The integration was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. This plant was not fertile.     

Evaluation of diallel analysis using β-glucuronidase activity from transgenes in Nicotiana tabacum

A full diallel analysis is a tool for selection in plant breeding that has been subject to many discussions and controversies regarding its interpretation and merits. The analysis of well-defined transgenes by such an approach permits assessment of the value of diallel analyses. The performance of the Eberhart/Gardner diallel approach is analysed for the β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity of six well-defined, homozygous one-locus tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) transgenic lines, each carrying differently located alleles of the GUS gene, and the nulliplex wild type. Tobacco is an inbreeding plant species, therefore all these lines are fully isogenic apart from the T-DNA insertion. The analysis shows that additivity of GUS gene activity as well as epistatic gene silencing translate well in the diallel parameters of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) or more detailed versions thereof, when compared to a parsimonious model based on the precise genetic constitution of the transgenic plants lines used as parents. The tobacco line with the highest GUS activity also has the highest GCA, demonstrating that an evaluation of parental phenotype would be sufficient for determining breeding potential. In case of the epistatic gene silencing, however, there is no positive correlation between GCA and parental performance, the reduction in GUS activity is more severe than is to be expected on the basis of parental performance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance and field performance of transgenic Korean Bt rice lines resistant to rice yellow stem borer

Transgenic Korean rice plants containing the cry1Ab gene were developed for resistance against yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas, YSB). More than 100 independent transgenic lines from three Korean varieties (P-I, P-II and P-III) were generated. The amount of Cry1Ab in transgenic T₀ plants was as high as 2.88% of total soluble proteins. These levels were sufficient to cause 100% mortality of YSB larvae. The majority of T₁ transgenic lines originated from the varieties P-I and P-II followed a Mendelian fashion of segregation. Deviation from the expected segregation ratio was observed in a small number of the transgenic lines of P-I and P-II origins. However, this deviation was primarily observed in the P-III originated lines. Segregation analysis of the T₁ generation indicated that 1–3 copies of the cry1Ab gene were integrated into the genome of the majority of the transgenic lines originating from varieties P-I and P-II. Stunted and semi-fertile mutants were observed in some transgenic lines. These aberrations were either independent or closely linked to the introduced cry1Ab gene loci in different transgenic lines. Reduction in GUS expression levels and loss of toxicity against YSB larvae were found in some transgenic lines. The transgenic T₃ and T₄ lines causing 100% mortality of third instar YSB larvae in the lab were completely protected in the field. Analysis of important yield components on nine selected transgenic lines indicated that stem length, panicle length, grain number per panicle, and seed setting rates were reduced in transgenic plants compared to those in non-transgenic parental rice lines. Number of panicles per cluster, however, was significantly higher in transgenic plants. The numerical value of the average yield was in general greater in the controls than in all the transgenic lines, indicating some ‘yield drag’. Since some selected lines were highly resistant to the YSB with good yielding potential, they offer effective potential for use in insect resistance management programs.     

多位点整合的转基因棉花后代分子鉴定

 GFP47是一个利用双元载体pPZP111构建的绿色荧光蛋白基因的简单质粒载体pPZP-GFP经农杆菌介导转化陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.)获得的T₀株系,PCR和Southern杂交分析证实其不仅整合了多个拷贝的正常的T-DNA,而且有紧邻T-DNA左边界的载体骨架序列的整合。对来源于GFP47的33个T₁个体的PCR分析表明,T₁后代中可以分离只有正常T-DNA整合的个体。对T₁群体中不同基因型个体的Southern杂交分析结果显示,该多拷贝整合的T₀转化体至少在棉花基因组中有四个插入位点,不同的Southern带型暗示不同插入位点的T-DNA结构和排布有很大的不同。至少有一个位点整合了只包括目的基因和选择标记基因在内的正常T-DNA结构。     

Inheritance and expression of transgenes in T2 and T3 generations of Lotus corniculatus transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The inheritance and expression of the reporter gene uidA, encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS), was previously analysed in the T₁ generation of 25 independent transformed lines of Lotus corniculatus cv. Leo. In the work reported here, GUS activity in various tissues of seven of these lines was tested in the T₂ generation. Four representative lines were chosen for more detailed study in the T₃ generation. Lines 25 and 38 had multiple, independently segregating transgene inserts; lines 24 and 39 appeared to transmit one segregating transgene insert to their T₁ progeny, although transgene expression was low and was detected in fewer seedlings than expected in line 39. The uidA gene was inherited and expressed in seedlings of T₁, T₂ and T₃ generations of all four lines. In all lines, transgene expression varied between tissues, with more embryos than seedlings having detectable GUS activity. Studies in the T₂ generation showed that use of transgenic plants as female or male parents altered the frequency of expression of the transgene in progeny. By contrast, in the T₃ generation the use of transgenic plants as female or male parents did not effect either frequency of transmission, or expression of the transgene, in any of the four lines. Transgene inheritance was also similar among individual pods within flower heads and between individual flower heads. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

用核基质结合区(SAR)序列提高小麦最小表达框转基因表达的稳定性

采用最小表达框技术转化植物可以规避由骨架序列引起的安全风险。核基质结合区序列SAR (scaffold attachment region)可作为边界元件与核基质结合阻挡转基因片段邻近染色质区的作用与影响, 提高外源基因稳定性。本研究在最小表达框序列两端添加SAR序列, 提高小麦最小表达框转基因表达的稳定性, 提高转化基因的表达效率。首先, 以GUS为目的基因构建带有SAR序列的最小表达框, 以科农199为受体进行基因枪转化, 同时以不加SAR序列的最小表达框片段为对照。带有SAR序列的最小表达框片段共轰击857个幼胚, T₀代获得40株再生植株, PCR检测到16株阳性植株, 转化效率为1.87%; 对这16个阳性单株进行GUS染色, 15株显色; 从来自4个T₀阳性植株的18个T₁代植株中随机选取18株进行PCR和GUS染色检测, 有15株表现为阳性。不带SAR序列的对照片段轰击1012个幼胚, 获得31株再生植株, 其中5株PCR阳性, 转化效率0.49%, 这5个阳性植株中仅2株为GUS染色阳性; 来自于5个T₀代PCR阳性株系的10个T₁代单株中没有发现PCR和GUS染色阳性株。表明SAR序列可以提高基因枪转基因效率和目的基因表达稳定性。为了创制抗旱转基因小麦, 以来自大豆的抗旱相关转录因子基因GmDREB3为目的基因, Bar基因为筛选标记基因, 转化受体小麦济麦22, 共轰击6045个幼胚, 获得再生植株130株, PCR检测阳性植株30株, 转化效率为0.50%; 随机选取6株PCR阳性植株进行RT-PCR分析, 其中5株可检测到外源基因的转录。进一步对这5株RT-PCR阳性植株插入片段完整性进行分析, 其中4株插入片段基本完整。通过real-time PCR分析, 发现T₀代6个RT-PCR阳性植株的外源GmDREB3的拷贝数为1~3个。以上结果证明, 在最小表达框两端加上SAR序列后可以提高小麦最小表达框转基因表达的稳定性。     

Resistance to the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, within Brassica fruticulosa

Two transgenic Bt rice lines, KMD1 and KMD2, both containing a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bt, were crossed with conventional rice varieties. The inheritance of resistance to SSB of KMD1 and KMD2was investigated through LSB and field examination of their progenies, e.g. F₁, BC₁ and F₂ populations. In LSBs, 100.0% of newly hatched SSB larvae died on the second day after feeding on leaf tissues of F₁ and GUS positive BC₁ plants, of which the area of leaf tissues consumed by SSB is also similar to that of transgenic parents. These results imply that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB is dominantly controlled and could be easily exploited in hybrid rice production. Field evaluation showed that segregation ratios for SSB resistance to susceptibility in BC₁ populations fit the ratio of 1:1, which was also confirmed by LSBs. However, in F₂ populations, the ratio was significantly smaller than 3:1 for resistant to susceptible plants in all 6 indica × japonica (KMD1 and KMD2) crosses, though it fitted 3:1 in all 4 japonica × japonica crosses. The results implied that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB was controlled by a dominant gene which was present in a homozygous condition in both KMD1 and KMD2, but the inheritance could be affected by other factors. Assays for Cry1Ab protein showed that, in most crosses, the content of Cry1Ab is significantly higher in leaves of GUS positive F₁, BC₁ and F₂ plants than that in transgenic Bt parent plants, which accounts for the high resistance observed in these plants to SSB. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

棉花种子特异表达的LEA启动子克隆及功能验证

以棉花品种新陆早33号为材料,克隆获得其胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白LEA基因的种子特异性启动子。启动子序列全长为1228bp;作用元件分析表明该区域除了具有启动子核心调控序列外,还含有多个与组织特异性、激素、逆境等表达相关的顺式作用元件,如E-box、ABRE元件、A-box等。与已报道的棉花品种Coker 201的LEA基因D34的5'端上游调控序列1212bp相比,两者具有97%的一致性。拟南芥遗传转化的功能分析结果表明,所克隆的序列能驱动GUS基因在种子中特异表达,且GUS主要在转基因植物的种子发育后期表达;其表达强度要弱于组成型的CaMV35S启动子。研究结果不仅有助于进一步深入认识棉花LEA基因功能及其表达调控规律,也为植物遗传转化提供组织特异性的启动子。     

Coat protein-mediated protection against plum pox virus in herbaceous model plants and transformation of apricot and plum

Summary The expression of the viral coat protein gene in transgenic plants has been shown to induce tolerance against virus infection (Beachy et al., 1990). Transgenic plants ofNicotiana clevelandii andNicotiana benthamiana- herbaceous host plants for PPV - transformed withAgrobacterium strain LBA 4404 containing the plasmid pBinPPVm, regenerated on selection media containing kanamycin were tested for the expression of the PPV coat protein gene by ELISA and immuno western blot. After rooting and acclimatisation plants were tested for the protection against PPV Following the inoculation plants were investigated for symptom development and virus accumulation. Different lines were identified, according to the different reaction to the mechanical inoculation, ranging from a complete absence to a strong reduction of symptoms. There have not been many reports on transformation of trees in general, and in fruit trees particularly. It is obvious that the major obstacle is the regeneration of transformed plantlets. Attempts to improve crop plants by genetic engineering techniques will always depend very strongly on the availability of reliable protocols for transformation, selection and regeneration (Laimer et al., 1989, 1990). Different systems involving juvenile and adult plant material have been developed allowing the transfer of foreign genes into apricot and plum cultivars. We report the transformation and regeneration ofPrunus armeniaca andPrunus domestica plants withAgrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 containing various binary plasmids, pBinGUSint, carrying the marker geneβ-glucuronidase (GUS) and pBinPPVm, carrying the coat protein gene of Plum Pox Virus (PPV), the causal agent of Sharka disease. The marker geneGUS was used for the optical evaluation of the efficiency of different transformation systems involving cotyledons of immature embryos as well as somatic embryos and leaf discs. The coat protein gene of PPV was used to introduce the coat protein mediated resistance against one of the most important pathogens of stone fruit trees in Europe and the whole Mediterranean area.     

对转蚕丝芯蛋白轻链基因棉花的分析

利用根癌农杆菌介导转化法,将棉纤维特异表达启动子GAE6-3A驱动的蚕丝芯蛋白轻链基因（FBN）转入陆地棉R15中。T₀代转基因再生株FNB基因PCR检测阳性率达70%。随机选取4个转基因株系T₁代材料的Southern杂交显示,3个为双拷贝插入、1个为单拷贝插入;Northern分析结果证实FBN基因在转基因棉纤维中表达。转基因后代的纯合选育主要以田间卡那霉素检测结合实验室内GUS组织化学检测进行,其中4个株系已获得了T₃代转基因材料,其他若干个转化子也获得T₁代和T₂代的不同材料。对6个转基因棉花株系后代纤维检测结果表明,蚕丝芯蛋白轻链基因对棉花纤维品质的影响主要体现于对纤维强度的改良。H18、H32、H34株系转基因棉花后代纤维强度较对照显著提高,其中H18纤维强度提高12.3%。     

Analysis of a backcross population from a multi-copy transgenic Brassica napus line

Brassica napus is one of the crops at the forefront of biotechnological development. The procedures used to produce transgenic varieties are all prone to generating plants with multiple transgene copies. There has been considereable interest in the behaviour of such multi-copy lines because gene dosage rarely appears to correlate simply with gene expression. Here we report the analysis of a population of 107 progeny from a B. napus transformant containing multiple copies of a GUS marker gene construct. A total of 12 GUS sequence copies were identified including one that was non-functional. The expression of GUS increased with increasing copy number but this increase only made up a small proportion of the total variation between lines. There was no evidence of interaction between the various GUS copies and they appeared to segregate independently. The variation between progeny lines indicated that the number of gene copies was not a good guide to the expression of the gene product and hence that the expression of the gene in progeny from a multiple-copy parent could not be predicted. The importance of these findings in relation to plant breeding and the risk assessment process is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transgenic soybean with low phytate content constructed by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> transformation and pollen-tube pathway

The expression of a microbial phytase in transgenic plants may create a new biochemical pathway that mobilizes its endogenous phytate and release inorganic phosphate from it, so that more phosphorus is available for plant growth. In this study, transgenic soybean plants were generated via both Agrobacterium transformation and pollen tube pathway with the PhyA gene of Aspergillus ficuum. The optimal concentrations of plant hormones including N₆-benzylaminopurine (BAP), gibberellin (GA₃) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were tested based on their effectiveness on promoting the growth of transgenic explants. Genomic PCR results and Southern blot hybridization analysis showed that transgenic soybean plants selected for resistance to kanamycin contained the phyA transgene. The transgenic soybean plants with phyA gene integrated in their genome exhibited lower amount of phytate in different soybean tissues including leaf, stem and root, which indicated that engineering crop plants with a higher expression level of heterologous phytase could improve the degradation of phytate and potentially in turn mobilize more inorganic phosphate from phytate and thus reduce phosphate load on agricultural ecosystems.     

利用农杆菌介导法转化泗棉3号的研究

泗棉3号农艺性状优良,是20世纪90年代长江流域棉区的主栽品种,利用基因工程导入外源基因进行直接改良,可以迅速获得新的品种或育种材料。以陆地棉泗棉3号的下胚轴为外植体,建立了高效的转化体系,得到了大量的转基因植株。泗棉3号的出愈率和分化率显著高于模式品种Coker 312,同时它出现分化中心的主要形态不同于Coker 312,其胚性愈伤组织主要来源于两类初生愈伤组织。对泗棉3号的胚性愈伤组织进行GUS检测,以及对再生植株叶片进行PCR检测后,阳性植株嫁接于温室。在温室用2 063.98 μmol L^-1的卡那霉素点涂叶片检测nptⅡ基因的表达和取叶片进行gus基因的组织化学检测,同时通过Southern blot分析检测,证明目的基因成功地整合到泗棉3号基因组中。     

水稻稻瘟病菌诱导表达启动子OsQ16p的克隆与功能分析

qRT-PCR分析表明,日本晴OsQ16基因受稻瘟病菌诱导表达。利用PCR技术从日本晴基因组中克隆了该基因编码区5′端上游1 229 bp的启动子序列,命名为OsQ16p。用其取代pBI121中gus基因上游的CaMV35S启动子,构建重组表达载体pBIQ16p,经农杆菌介导转化日本晴,获得转基因植株。GUS组织化学染色和qRT-PCR分析表明: (1) gus基因在抗性愈伤组织和阳性转基因植株中均能表达; (2)转基因植株在接种稻瘟病菌后12 h,GUS表达量是处理前的2.7倍; (3)抗病相关信号分子水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)和茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,MeJA)喷施转基因植株叶面后12 h,GUS表达量分别为处理前的3.1倍和3.5倍。以上结果表明,OsQ16p启动子具有启动活性,并明显受稻瘟病菌、MeJA和SA诱导表达。     

水稻蛋白二硫键异构酶基因沉默载体构建及其转基因后代的高温结实特性分析

采用RT-PCR法亚克隆了PDI基因保守区内450 bp的靶标序列作为干扰区段, 构建了含有内含子hpRNA (ihpRNA)的双元表达载体pTCK303-RiOsPDI, 经农杆菌介导转化日本晴, 获得转基因植株; 通过在T₀代对其潮霉素(Hyg)抗性基因的PCR鉴定, 确定携带有干扰片段的T-DNA区已整合到水稻基因组中, 且在转基因T₁代符合3∶1的分离模式。半定量PCR和荧光定量PCR的检测结果表明, PDI基因沉默转基因阳性植株不同器官中的PDI表达量均显著降低, 尤其是其籽粒中表达量较微, 几乎能引起靶基因80%左右沉默。对转基因T₂代植株的高温结实特性和籽粒理化品质的检测结果, PDI基因沉默会引起高温胁迫处理下结实率的大幅度降低, 耐热性显著下降, 但其在常温处理下的结实率与对照之间无显著差异。此外, PDI基因沉默后, 稻米的透明度下降、垩白度增加, 但对籽粒粗蛋白总量和直链淀粉含量的影响不甚明显。     

Influence of the Indoleacetic Acid-Lysine Synthetase Gene (iaaL) of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi on Yield Attributes of Potatoes

The iaaL gene of Pseudomonas syringae subsp. savastanoi encodes an indoleacetic acid-lysine synthetase which conjugates free indoleacetic acid (IAA) with lysine. lAA-lys is biologically less active than free IAA. The iaaL coding region was expressed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and transgenic potato plants were produced (Spena et al. 1991). 35S iaaL potato plants are characterized by increased internodal length and epinastic bending of older leaves. In three greenhouse experiments with plants grown in pots of different size and in two growth chamber experiments tuber number increased in iaaL transgenic plants compared to untransformed and vector-transformed controls of the same genotype. The increase in tuber numbers observed under controlled conditions was reflected in tuber yield which increased in the pot grown transgenics.