Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS gene transformation of Robinia pseudoacacia ''''Idaho''''

Based on the plant regeneration system, a GUS gene transformation system to Idaho locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Idaho') mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens was established. The successful transformation was confirmed by regenerating the shoots from the infected leaves in the presence of hygromysin; by histochemical X-gluc assays ofβ-glucuronidase (GUS) and by PCR and PCR-Southern blotting analysis. The ratio of positive transgenic plants is 5.8% (5 out of 86 plants). With this system, the target gene DREB was introduced into the leaves of Idaho locust. The transgenic plants regenerated, which was verified by PCR-Southern blotting. It is suggested that the transformation system could be a new, simple, reliable and practical route to gene transformation of R. pseudoacacia 'Idaho' mediated with A. tumefaciens.     

Regeneration and gene transformation systems of Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Idaho’ mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Idaho’ is one of several multi-purpose trees used in ornamental, soil and water conservation, fodder and nectar sources. Plant abiotic stress tolerance transformed by genes could meet the requirements for reclamation of arid or alkalid lands and vegetation restoration. For this paper, we studied the effects of auxin and cytokine on Idaho locust in vitro regeneration and the establishment of gene transformation systems for plants mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Results showed that the ratios of cytokinin and auxin were the major factors affecting adventitious bud differentiation on a MS medium; the concentration of 0.5 mg•L^–1 6-BA benefitted callus proliferation and 0.25 mg•L^–1 IBA promoted shoot rooting; however, a higher IBA concentration will inhibit rooting. The most effective antitoxin for screening transgenic Idaho locust shoots was G418 and the most sensitive concentra-tion of it was 8 mg•L^–1.     

Determination of drought tolerance using root activities in Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Idaho’ transformed with mtl-D gene

Idaho locust (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Idaho’) is an exotic multi-purpose tree used in landscaping, soil and water conservation, fodder sources and others. To improve its drought tolerance for reclaiming arid land, five lines of transformed mtl-D gene, as osmotic regulator in plant cells, have been selected and managed to determine their drought tolerance under experimental conditions. Qualitative and quantitative variables of transformed plants were studied. The critical value of drought tolerance was determined by detecting the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductants in roots and soil water content (SWC). The critical value for drought tolerance was SWC 6% while for the control plants the critical SWC was 8%; a moderate level of SWC is 13% and the highest SWC for plant endurance was 18%. The method proved to be reliable and sensitive in the evaluation of drought tolerance for forest trees.     

根癌农杆菌介导的反义VeFAD2基因对少根根霉的遗传转化及其影响因子

Agrobacteriurn tumefaciens-mediated transformation (AtMT) method was used to study the genetic transformation in Rhizopus arrhizus of antisense expression vector pBI121-fad2 of VeFAD₂ gene. We studied the key factors influencing transformation, such as A.tumefaciens strains,bacterial cell volume initially used, co-cultivation time, effective period and concentration of AS. The results shows that the ideal A.tumefaciens strain is AGL-1, the optimum bacterial cell volume initially used is 50-100 μL and co-culture 24 hours will get the most transformants. At co-culture period, AS induction is indispensable. It is beneficial to improve transformation ratio by adding to 200 μmol·L^-1 AS at preincubate period and increasing AS concentration to 400-600 μmol·L^-1 at co-culture period. It determined that antisense VeFAD₂ gene has been integrated into the genome of R. arrhizus by PCR-Southern detection.     

Regeneration and gene transformation systems of Robima pseudoacacia ''''Idaho'''' mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Idaho' is one of several multi-purpose trees used in ornamental, soil and water conservation, fodder and nectar sources. Plant abiotic stress tolerance transformed by genes could meet the requirements for reclamation of arid or alkalid lands and vegetation restoration. For this paper, we studied the effects of auxin and cytokine on Idaho locust in vitro regeneration and the establishment of gene transformation systems for plants mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Results showed that the ratios of cytokinin and auxin were the major factors affecting adventitious bud differentiation on a MS medium; the concentration of 0.5 mg·L-1 6-BA benefitted callus proliferation and 0.25 mg·L-1 IBA promoted shoot rooting; however, a higher IBA concentration will inhibit rooting. The most effective antitoxin for screening transgenic Idaho locust shoots was G418 and the most sensitive concentration of it was 8 mg·L-1.     

Establishment of a transgenic system in fast-growing black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.）

The AhDREB1 gene, cloned from Atriplex hortensis L., was transferred into black locust （Robiniapseudoacacia L.） by an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The results suggest that stems of black locust sub-cultured in vitro for 20 d are suitable for genetic transformation. The optimum concentrations of kanamycin and cefotaxime were 30 and 150 mg.L-1, respectively. Important factors affecting the transformation efficiency were studied by means of a L9（3^4） orthogonal design. An effective system for genetic transformation in black locust was developed as follows： the stems were pre-cultured for 2 d, immersed in the Agrobacterium solution （OD600 = 0.7） with 10 mg·L^-1 acetosyringone for 21 min and then co-cultured for 2 d. The selection pressures, changing from low to high, could improve transformation efficiency. The transgenic plants were identified by a PCR method. The PCR results indicated that the AhDREB1 gene had been integrated into the genome of black locust and two lines of the transgenic plants were obtained.     

Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CpTI</Emphasis> gene integration for 2-year-old transgenic poplars at DNA level

The putative transgenic hybrid triploid poplars [(P. tomentosa × P. bolleana) × P. tomentosa] with CpTI gene have been outplanted in test field for 2 years. Although the authors’ previous studies have proved that they are highly resistant to 3 species of poplar-threatening insect pests and contain high content of CpTI protein in foliage, incorporation status of foreign CpTI gene in poplar genome is uncertain. In this present study, the incorporation of foreign CpTI gene in genome of 5 transgenic poplars was confirmed by PCR and Southern blotting analysis. DNA amplification showed that there were clear DNA bands of about 450bp specific to CpTI gene in transgenic lanes, while no corresponding band in non-transgenic lane was observed. Correspondingly, clear DNA hybridization signals and no signal were exhibited on film for DNA Southern blotting analysis in transgenic lanes and non-transgenic lane, respectively, which further confirmed the stable integration of foreign CpTI gene in genome of 2-year-old transgenic poplar.     

Rooting and acclimatization of in vitro plantlets of mtl-D gene modified Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Idaho’

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Idaho' (Robinia×ambigua 'Idahoensis', R. pseudoacacia×R. viscosa) modified by a mtl-D gene went through five lines and had characteristics of drought tolerance. Three stages of their micropropagation had been studied by previous investigators. The other two stages, in vitro shoot rooting and plantlet acclimatization, still remained unsolved in the laboratory. For this paper, we studied the later two stages based on the previous achievements. Results showed that the highest rooting rate of Idaho locust was 98.4% when the in vitro shoots, over 2.5 cm in height and 0.08 cm in diameter, were placed on a half strength MS basal medium with 0.4 mg·L-1 IB A and 0.1 mg·L-1 NAA as supplements and were solidified with 0.5% agar; the highest survival rate was 98.3% when the rooted plantlets were potted in vermiculite. All the stages for micropropagation of the Idaho locust, modified by the mtl-D gene, were assembled completely. The tissue culture plants grow well in the field.     

Cloning and RNAi Construction of a LEAFY Homologous Gene from Populus tomentosa and Preliminary Study in Tobacco

PtLFY, a LEAFY （LFY） gene, was cloned from Populus tomentosa （LM50） by PCR. Sequencing analysis indicated that PtLFY was 2629 bp long, composed of three exons and two introns and encoded 378 amino acids. The splice donor sites and the splice acceptor sites were in identical positions to the LFY and its homologues. The amino acid sequence inferred was 68%-99% homologous to those of LFY and its homologues by blast analysis in GenBank. The Southern blot analysis indicated that there was a single copy of the PtLFY gene in genomic DNA of male and female P. tomentosa （LM50 and 5082）. The pBI121-Ptalfy （reverse）-intron-Ptlfy-GUS-nos was constructed using RNA interference （RNAi） technique and verified by PCR and digestion identification and transformed into tobacco. Some transgenic tobacco plants were obtained by PCR and PCR-Southern identification. The growth was generally repressed in transgenic tobacco plants compared with wild-type ones and some phenotypic differences were observed.     

Improvement in salt tolerance of Populus tomentosa from transformation by a mtl-D gene

Transgenic lines were achieved by transforming the E. coli 1-phosphate mannitol dehydrogenase gene (mtl-D) into the Populus tomentosa Carr. genome. An Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain (AGL1), constructed by cloning mtl-D into the disarmed plasmid pBin438, was used to infect leaves of the clone YW2. The infected leaf discs were cultured on a medium containing 30 mg·L-1 kanamycin and 500 mg·L-1 cefotaxime. Transgenic plantlets regenerated from the infected leaves, rooted on the medium containing 30 mg·L-1 kanamycin. PCR and a Southern blotting test verified that the exogenous mtl-D gene had integrated into the transformation plants of the P. tomentosa genome. The mannitol content in control plant was 69μg·g-1 FW, and the mannitol contents of the transgenic lines T1 to T5 ranged between 103.7 and 289.5μg·g-1 FW. Of the shoots of the control plants 20% survived; on the medium containing 0.6% NaCl, 60% and 70% of two transgenic shoots survived on a medium containing 0.8% NaCl.     

农杆菌介导的SeNHX1基因转化月季愈伤组织的研究

Pink Peace’rose was used to study the optimum conditions for transferring the SeNHX1 gene into the callus. The results showed that the optimal medium was MS+2,4-D 5.0 mg·L^-1 + TDZ 0.5 mg·L^-1. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was able to take the target gene into callus and the blue spots were found. The optimum conditions for the transient expression of gusA gene are as following: bacterium density of OD was 0.5, infection time was 20 min, culture time was 3 days. Adding 100 μmol·L^-1 AS, the frequency of transient expression of GUS gene was the highest, which reached about 85% in present study.     

High level expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">PsG6PDH</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus suaveolens</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

In order to investigate the functions of the gene PsG6PDH and the mechanisms underlying freezing tolerance of Populus suaveolens, the recombinant expression vector pET-G (pET30a-G6PDH), which contained full encoding region of PsG6PDH gene, was established. The recombinant was identified by lawn-PCR and double enzyme digestion and then transformed into expression host XA90 and induced by isopropyl-â-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to express 100 kD polypeptide of G6PDH fusion protein. The results showed that the expressed amount of the fusion protein culminated after 1 mmol&#8226;L^–1 IPTG treatment for 4 h and that pET-G product was predominately soluble and not extra-cellular secreting.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS gene transfer to Sophora japonica L.

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Sophora japonica was standardized using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 that harbored the binary vector pBI121 containing genes forβ-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phos-photransterase (nptⅡ). S. japonica transformants were selected by the ability of the leaf explants to produce kanamycin-resistant calli that regenerated into kanamycin-resistant plantlets. Successful transformation was confirmed by histochemical assay for GUS activity, PCR analysis and Southern blot. The period of nearly two months was required for the regeneration of transgenic plantlets from the explants. The transformed plants resembled their parents in morphology.     

Molecular Cloning of a Cellulose Synthase Gene PtoCesA1 from Populus tomentosa and Its Genetic Transformation in Tobacco

A 3 125 bp cellulose synthase gene, PtoCesA1, which has a 98% identity to PtrCesA1 from Populus tremuloides, was cloned from cDNA prepared from secondary xylem of P tomentosa. Four anti-expression vectors with different fragments of PtoCesAl, named as pBIPF, pBICC1, pBIPR and pBIBR, were constructed. Some traits of transformed tobacco of pBICC1, pBIPR and pBIBR differed from wild types, such as small leaves, ＂dwarf＂ phenotype and thinner xylem and fiber cell walls than wild plants consistent with a loss of cellulose. It indicated that the growth of transgenic tobacco was restrained by the expression of anti-PtoCesA1. Transgenic tobacco was obtained and the contents of cellulose and lignin were analyzed as well as the width and length of fiber cells, and xylem thickness for both transgenic and control plants. Transformed tobacco showed a different phenotype from control plants and it implied that PtoCesA1 was essential for the cellulose biosynthesis in poplar stems.     

Capacity of Stem Water Conductivity for Two Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urophylla) Plantations in South China

The sap flux density (SFD) was used as a measure of water capacity through stems of eucalyptus in this paper. It was found that daily SFD increased with daily vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in nonlinear regression Y = AX³ + BX² + CX + D (R² = 0.702 1, n = 135, p = 0.01) at both sites (Hetou and Jijia) in the Leizhou Peninsula, Guangdong Province, China, where Y was daily SFD, X was mean daily VPD, A, B, C, D were constants. But extremely high VPD might limit stem water conductivity. The environmental factors, such as air vapor pressure deficit (VPD), solar radiation (RAD), etc., were the main determinants of SFD for E. urophylla plantations. The upper threshold of diurnal SFD was 51.55–55.65 mL&#8226;cm^–2&#8226;h^–1 under the selected extremely high environmental conditions.     

转多基因库安托杨非靶目标材性性状分析

In this study, the transgenic poplar (Populus × euramericana‘Guariento’) harboring five exogenous genes (SacB, Vgb, BtCry3A, OC-I and JERF36^#) and the control plants were selected, comparing the wood property variation of 5-year-old trees, and trying to understand whether the transgenic of exogenous genes produce unintended effects. The results showed that the transgenic of exogenous genes caused a wide range of variation in non-target wood properties, the variations were found not only between transgenic and wild-type lines, but also among transgenic lines. Compared with the control, the transgenic lines, the contents of holocellulose and cellulose increased, the total lignin and acid soluble lignin decreased, the fiber length, the fiber width, the microfibril angle and the acid insoluble lignin varied uncertainly. It is concluded that the introduced exogenous gene could generate unintended effects on corresponding non-target target traits.     

Plant regeneration of transgenic China Rose (Rosa chinensis Jacq.) from organogenic callus

Different types of explants of China Rose (Rosa chinensis Jacq.) were placed on a Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium containing L-proline and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Organogenesis was observed on callus induced from both whole leaf and petiole and the high frequency of organogenesis was observed on the whole leaf. Shoot regeneration was obtained via organogenesis. The effects of pH and concentrations of antibiotics on maintenance of organogenesis capacity were investigated in subsequent subcultures. The pH value was found to play a critical role in retaining organogenesis capacity. The binary vector pBI121, carrying the gus gene coding forβ-glucuronidase (GUS) and the nptⅡgene mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, was used for transformation of organogenic callus using 50 mg·L-1 geneticin for selection. Six regenerated lines showed GUS activity, of which five were verified for the presence of nptⅡgene by PCR.     

Determination of drought tolerance using root activities in Robinia pseudoacada ''''Idaho'''' transformed with mtl-D gene

Idaho locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Idaho') is an exotic multi-purpose tree used in landscaping, soil and water conservation, fodder sources and others. To improve its drought tolerance for reclaiming arid land, five lines of transformed mtl-D gene, as osmotic regulator in plant cells, have been selected and managed to determine their drought tolerance under experimental conditions. Qualitative and quantitative variables of transformed plants were studied. The critical value of drought tolerance was determined by detecting the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductants in roots and soil water content (SWC). The critical value for drought tolerance was SWC 6% while for the control plants the critical SWC was 8%; a moderate level of SWC is 13% and the highest SWC for plant endurance was 18%. The method proved to be reliable and sensitive in the evaluation of drought tolerance for forest trees.     

Assessment of Rhizospheric Microorganisms of Transgenic Populus tomentosa with Cowpea Trypsin Inhibitor (CpTI) Gene

To have a preliminary insight into biosafety of genetically transformed hybrid triploid poplars (Populus tomentosa × P. bolleana) × P. tomentosa with the cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) gene, two layers of rhizospheric soil (from 0 to 20 cm deep and from 20 to 40 cm deep, respectively) were collected for microorganism culture, counting assay and PCR analysis to assess the poten-tial impact of transgenic poplars on non-target microorganism population and transgene dispersal. When the same soil layer of suspension stock solution was diluted at both 1:1 000 and 1:10 000 rates, there were no significant differences in bacterium colony numbers between the inoculation plates of both transgenic and non-transgenic poplars. The uniform results were revealed for both soil layer suspension solutions of identical poplars at both dilution rates except for non-transgenic poplars at 1:10 000 dilution rates from the same type of soil. No significant variation in morphology of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was observed under the microscope. The potential transgene dispersal from root exudates or fallen leaves to non-target microbes was repudiated by PCR analysis, in which no CpTI gene specific DNA band was amplified for 15 sites of transgenic rhizospheric soil samples. It can be concluded that transgenic poplar with the CpTI gene has no severe impact on rhizospheric microorganisms and is tentatively safe to surrounding soil micro-ecosystem.