Regeneration of foreign genes co-transformed plants of Medicago sativa L by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

Gene encoding sulphur amino acid-rich protein (HNP) and rol genes were transferred into Medicago sativa L (alfalfa) mediated by Agrobacterium tumafeciens. Regeneration of transgenic plants was induced successfully from hairy root tissue of cotyledon in alfalfa. Cotyledon tissues were an ideally transformed recipient. There was a negative correlation between age of hairy roots and embryogenesis frequency in alfalfa. Production of co-transformed plants with greater yield and super quality was important for development of new alfalfa varieties.     

Ri-plasmid as a helper for introducing vector DNA into alfalfa plants

Genetic engineering of legumes and other important dicotyledonous plants is limited because of the difficulty of regenerating plants via cell culture. Since a considerable number of crop plants can be regenerated only from root culture, the introduction of foreign genes into Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy roots may expand the list of crop plants that could be genetically engineered. Here we report genetic transformation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a valuable forage legume, using a virulent strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes containing, in addition to its Ri-plasmid, a binary vector containing a nopaline synthase gene. Plant cells transformed by this vector can be easily identified by their ability to produce nopaline. Transformed alfalfa plants were recovered from A. rhizogenes-induced hairy roots. These transgenic plants were characterized by normal leaf morphology and stem growth but a root system that was shallow and more extensive than normal. These plants were also fertile, set seeds upon self-pollination and outcrossing. Nopaline was detected in R1 progeny. Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of multiple copies of T-DNAs from the Riplasmid in the plant genome in addition to the vector T-DNA.     

Meristem-localized inducible expression of a UDP-glycosyltransferase gene is essential for growth and development in pea and alfalfa

PsUGT1, which encodes a microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, was cloned from root tips of Pisum sativum. PsUGT1 expression is correlated with mitosis and strongly induced in dividing cells. A region at the C terminus of the encoded protein is closely related to the UDP-glucuronic acid binding site consensus sequence, and the protein encoded by PsUGT1 catalyzes conjugation of UDP-glucuronic acid to an unknown compound. Overexpression of PsUGT1 sense mRNA has no detectable effect on transgenic pea hairy root cultures or regenerated alfalfa. However, inhibiting PsUGT1 expression by the constitutive expression of antisense mRNA (under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter) markedly retards growth and development of transgenic alfalfa. Cell structure and organization in the antisense plants are similar to those of controls, but plant growth is reduced and development is delayed. This inhibition in growth is correlated with a twofold delay in the time required for completion of a cell cycle and with a >99% inhibition of border cell production. Inhibition of PsUGT1 expression by meristem-localized inducible expression of PsUGT1 antisense mRNA (under the control of its own promoter) is lethal both in pea hairy roots and in transgenic alfalfa plants. These results indicate that PsUGT1 expression is required for normal plant growth and development, and they are consistent with the hypothesis that this UDP-glycosyltransferase regulates activity of a ligand(s) needed for cell division.     

Influence of Selected Plant Species on Hatching of Eggs and Development of Juveniles of Heterodera glycines

The influence of selected plant species on egg hatch and subsequent development of Heterodera glycines race 3 was investigated. Plants tested included four soybean cultivars, red clover, alfalfa, hairy vetch, field corn, sweet corn, cabbage, tobacco, cotton, and wheat. Soybean stimulated egg hatching more than any of the other plant species, with H. glycines-resistant cultivars being more stimulating than susceptible ones. Hairy vetch also increased hatch. Roots of cabbage, red clover, alfalfa, and hairy vetch were readily penetrated by juveniles of H. glycines. Maturation to adult occurred only on soybean and hairy vetch.     

Transfer of the symbiotic plasmid from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii to Agrobacterium tumefaciens

This study examined the symbiotic properties of Agrobacterium transconjugants isolated by transferring a Tn5-mob-marked derivative of the 315 kb megaplasmid pRt4Sa from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii 4S (wild-type strain) to Agrobacterium tumefaciens A136 as the recipient. The genetic characteristics of the AT4S transconjugant strains were ascertained by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses and Southern hybridization using Tn5-mob and nod genes as probes. Several of these AT4S transconjugants carrying pRt4Sa were able to nodulate roots of the normal legume host, white clover. In addition, some AT4S transconjugant strains were able to induce nodules on other leguminous plants, including alfalfa and hairy vetch. A characteristic bacteroid differentiation was observed in clover and alfalfa nodules induced by the AT4S-series strains, although nitrogen-fixing activity (acetylene reduction) was not found. Furthermore, strain H1R1, obtained by retracing transfer of the pRt4Sa::Tn5-mob from strain AT4Sa to strain H1 (pRt4Sa cured derivative of 4S), induced Fix(+) nodules on clover roots. These results indicate the evidence that only nod genes can be expressed in the Agrobacterium background.     

烟草毛状根多倍体诱导及其植株再生

为了提高烟草的烟碱含量,采用发根农杆菌遗传转化和人工染色体加倍技术,进行了烟草毛状根及其多倍体诱导、植株再生及其烟碱含量测定。结果表明,发根农杆菌ATCC15834感染烟草叶片外植体8 d后产生白色毛状根,15 d后所有叶片外植体产生毛状根。毛状根能在无外源激素的MS固体和液体培养基上自主生长。PCR扩增结果显示发根农杆菌Ri质粒的rol B和rol C基因以及冠瘿碱合成酶基因已在烟草毛状根基因组中整合并得到表达。烟草毛状根多倍体诱导的最适条件为0.1%的秋水仙素溶液处理36 h,其多倍体诱导率为64.71%。经秋水仙素加倍的烟草毛状根多倍体植株再生的最适宜培养基为MS+6-BA 2.0 mg/L+NAA0.2 mg/L。与对照(二倍体非转化植株)相比,烟草二倍体毛状根再生植株的顶端优势减弱,腋芽增多,叶片变窄;而烟草毛状根多倍体再生植株茎更粗,节间变短,叶色更深,叶片的宽度和厚度均较对照明显增大。根尖细胞染色体压片观察证实,所获得的烟草毛状根多倍体再生植株为四倍体,其根尖细胞染色体数约为4n=96。盆栽实验表明,烟草二倍体毛状根植株和多倍体毛状根再生植株比对照植株延迟约21 d开花。GC-MS检测表明,烟草毛状根多倍体再生植株的烟碱含量比对照及二倍体毛状根再生植株显著提高,分别约为对照及二倍体毛状根再生植株的6.90倍和4.57倍。     

Frequency-dependent herbivory by a leaf beetle,Phaedon brassicae,on hairy and glabrous plants of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera

Frequency-dependent prey choice by natural enemies may influence the coexistence of multiple prey types, but little is known about whether frequency-dependent foraging choice occurs in herbivory on plants showing resistance polymorphism within a single population. Here we examined frequency-dependent foraging by a crucifer-feeding leaf beetle, Phaedon brassicae, on trichome-producing (hairy) and trichomeless (glabrous) plants coexisting within a natural population of the perennial herb Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera. Larvae of P. brassicae fed on hairy leaves showed slower growth than those fed on glabrous leaves. Although adult beetles consumed similar amounts of leaves when they were fed either hairy or glabrous leaves in no-choice conditions, our choice experiment showed that adult beetles fed at less than the proportionally expected level on hairy leaves compared to glabrous leaves when the hairy leaves were less or equally abundant. Both types of leaves were consumed at the proportionally expected levels when the hairy leaves were more abundant than the glabrous leaves. In a natural population, the leaf damage on the hairy plants was negatively correlated with the local proportion of the glabrous plants in a 1-m diameter patch across 2 years, while correlations between the leaf damage on the glabrous plants and their proportion differed between the 2 years. Additionally, we found five glucosinolates in leaves of A. halleri, but their accumulation did not differ between hairy and glabrous plants. Our experimental results indicate that hairy plants incur less herbivory by P. brassicae when glabrous plants are abundant. The field pattern provides evidence suggestive of frequency-dependent herbivory acting on hairy plants. The present study highlights one of the putative mechanisms of maintaining plant resistance polymorphism.     

Hairy root transformation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Summary The widely cultivated forage legume alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was transformed with the agropine type Agrobacterium rhizogenes NCPPB 1855. Sterile root and callus cultures were derived from tumorous hairy roots which were easily obtained independent of the plant variety or genotype. Plant regeneration, via somatic embryogenesis, was achieved only when a selected alfalfa line, characterized by high regenerative capability, was utilized. Genetic transformation was confirmed by the presence of agropine and T-DNA. Phenotypic alterations, mainly affecting the root system, were observed in transformed plants. The possibility that T-DNA-induced variations could be useful in the improvement of M. sativa is discussed.Research work was partially supported by Progetto Strategico Agrobiotecnologia C.N.R., Italy     

A novel life cycle arising from leaf segments in plants regenerated from horseradish hairy roots

Summary Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) hairy root clones were established from hairy roots which were transformed with the Ri plasmid in Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834. The transformed plants, which were regenerated from hairy root clones, had thicker roots with extensive lateral branches and thicker stems, and grew faster compared with non-transformed horseradish plants. Small sections of leaves of the transformed plants generated adventitious roots in phytohormone-free G (modified Gamborg's) medium. Root proliferation was followed by adventitious shoot formation and plant regeneration. Approximately twenty plants were regenerated per square centimeter of leaf. The transformed plants were easily transferable from sterile conditions to soil. When leaf segments of the transformed plants were cultured in a liquid fertilizer under non-sterile conditions, adventitious roots were generated at the cut ends of the leaves. Adventitious shoots were generated at the boundary between the leaf and the adventitious roots and developed into complete plants. This novel life cycle arising from leaf segments is a unique property of the transformed plants derived from hairy root clones.     

Effects of Environmental Factors and Cultural Practices on Parasitism of Alfalfa by Ditylenchus dipsaci

Cool humid weather enhanced development and reproduction of Ditylenchus dipsaci in alfalfa in laboratory and field studies in Utah. Relative humidity and nematode reproduction were positively correlated (P < 0.05), whereas air temperature and nematode reproduction were negatively correlated (P < 0.05). The greatest number of nematodes per gram of alfalfa tissue was found in nondormant Moapa alfalfa tissue at St. George during April, whereas the greatest numbers of nematodes were found in dormant Ranger alfalfa in June at West Jordan and Smithfield. There was 100% invasion of both resistant Lahontan and susceptible Ranger alfalfa plants at soil moisture levels of 61-94% field capacity. Fall burning of alfalfa to control weeds reduced, and spring burning increased, the incidence of invaded plants, nematodes per gram of plant tissue, and the mortality of susceptible Ranger (P < 0.01) and Moapa (P < 0.01) alfalfa plants over that of plants in nonburned control plots. Fall burning also reduced and spring burning increased the incidence of invaded plants (P < 0.05), but had no influence on nematodes per gram of plant tissue or the mortality of resistant Lahontan and Nevada Synthetic XX alfalfa over those of plants in control plots.     

Production of transgenic Aralia elata regenerated from Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformed roots

Transgenic hairy roots were induced from petiole and root segments of in vitro plant Aralia elata, a medicinal woody shrub, after co-cultivation with A. rhizogenes ATCC 15834. The percentage of putative hairy root induction from root segments was higher (26.7%) than petiole explants (10.0%). Hairy roots showed active production of lateral roots with vigorous elongation. Transgenic plants were regenerated from hairy roots via somatic embryogenesis. These plants had wrinkled leaves, short petioles and numerous lateral hairy roots. The RT-PCR analysis showed the expression of rol A, B, C, D, aux 1 and 2 genes differed between the transgenic lines. Endogenous IAA level was higher in transgenic than non-transgenic plants. Conclusively, transgenic hairy roots were developed for first time in A. elata and the transgenic hairy root lines showed distinct morphological growth pattern and gene expression.     

广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导及其植株再生

为了提高药用植物广藿香的次生物质广藿香醇含量,采用秋水仙素人工诱导染色体加倍技术,进行了广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导及其植株再生、倍性鉴定和挥发油组分广藿香醇含量的测定。结果表明,广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导的最佳条件为0.05%秋水仙素处理36 h,其多倍体诱导率可达40%以上;经秋水仙素加倍的广藿香毛状根在MS+6-BA 0.2 mg/L+NAA 0.1 mg/L培养基中培养60 d后可获得毛状根多倍体再生植株。与对照(二倍体植株)相比,广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株根系更发达、茎更粗、节间变短、叶片的长度、宽度和厚度均较二倍体明显增大。根尖细胞染色体压片观察证实,所获得的广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株为四倍体,其根尖细胞染色体数约为128;同时,其叶片的气孔保卫细胞体积及其叶绿体数目均约为对照的两倍;但其气孔密度则随着倍性增加而下降,二倍体植株叶片的气孔密度约为四倍体植株叶片的1.67倍。GC-MS测定结果表明,广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株的广藿香挥发油组分广藿香醇的含量为4.25 mg/g干重,约为二倍体植株的2.30倍。该结果证实毛状根多倍体化可提高药用植物广藿香的广藿香醇含量。     

纤维植物罗布麻发根的诱导及植株再生

利用3种发根农杆菌(LBA9402.R601,和R1000)转化纤维植物罗布麻无菌种子苗的根茎叶不同外植体部位,首次诱导其生成发根并实现了直接由发根途径的植株再生.罗布麻发根诱导与所用的发根农杆菌菌株,外植体部位及光周期密切相关.发根农杆菌LBA9402感染罗布麻的根外植体,实现了最高转化率达100%.与LBA9402及R601相比,被发根农杆菌R1000感染的根外植体适合在黑暗环境下培养.其诱导生成的发根密度可达平均每个外植体22条.在不加激素的1/2 MS培养基上,LBA9402和R601诱导产生的发根可以诱导生成不定芽,不定芽诱导率达20%.不定芽切下后,在不加激素的1/2 MS培养基上2周内可以诱导生根.通过聚合酶链式反应(PCR)对发根及再生植株进行了鉴定,证明发根农杆菌的T-DNA插入了植物的基因组.为罗布麻的分子育种建立了稳定的转化及再生体系,为下一步通过转入外源基因改善其农艺性状奠定了基础.     

Tests of associational defence provided by hairy plants for glabrous plants of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera against insect herbivores

1. Trichome‐producing (hairy) and trichomeless (glabrous) plants of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera were investigated to test whether plant resistance to herbivory depends on the plants' phenotypes and/or the phenotypes of neighbouring plants (associational effects). 2. A common garden experiment was conducted in which the relative frequency of hairy and glabrous plants was manipulated. Two species of leaf‐chewing insects (larvae of a white butterfly and a cabbage sawfly) were found less often on hairy plants than on glabrous plants. By contrast, the numbers of aphids and flea beetles did not differ significantly between hairy and glabrous plants. For none of these insects did abundance depend on the frequency of the two plant morphs. 3. A field survey was conducted in two natural populations of A. halleri. In the first population, a species of white butterfly was the dominant herbivore, and hairy plants incurred less leaf damage than glabrous plants across 2 years. By contrast, in the other population, where flea beetles were dominant, there were no consistent differences in leaf damage between the two types of plants. In neither of the two populations was any evidence found of associational effects. 4. This study did not provide any conclusive evidence of associational effects of anti‐herbivore resistance, but it was discovered that trichomes can confer resistance to certain herbivores. Given the results of previous work by the authors on associational effects against a flightless leaf beetle, such associational effects of the trichome dimorphism of A. halleri were herbivore‐specific.     

Associational effects against a leaf beetle mediate a minority advantage in defense and growth between hairy and glabrous plants

Based on the accumulation of evidence, the risk of herbivory depends not only on the traits of a plant but also on those of neighboring plants. Despite the potential importance of frequency-dependent interactions in the evolutionary stability of anti-herbivore defense, we know little about such associational effects between defended and undefended plants within a species. In this study, we determined whether the intraspecific associational effects against the oligophagous leaf beetle, Phaedon brassicae, caused a minority advantage in defense and growth between trichome-producing (hairy) and trichomeless (glabrous) plants of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera. We experimentally demonstrated that the magnitude of herbivory and the number of adult beetles on hairy plants decreased when hairy plants were a minority, whereas the leaf damage and the beetle abundance did not differ between hairy and glabrous plants when glabrous plants were a minority. By contrast, the larvae of P. brassicae occurred less when hairy plants were a majority. We also found a reciprocal minority advantage in the biomass production for both hairy and glabrous plants. Additionally, the adults tended to attack glabrous leaves more rapidly than hairy ones, particularly when the beetles were starved or experienced glabrous diets. Furthermore, in the absence of herbivory, the growth of hairy plants tended to be slower than glabrous plants, which indicated a cost for the production of trichomes. Our study suggests that associational effects are a mechanism for the maintenance of trichome dimorphism by contributing to negative frequency-dependent growth.     

3种农杆菌对茶树发状根诱导的影响

以茶树‘福云6号’和‘铁观音’成熟种子下胚轴、未成熟种子下胚轴和愈伤组织为材料,以发状根诱导率为指标,探究菌液浓度、农杆菌菌株、外植体类型和预培养时间对发状根诱导的影响。结果表明:(1)菌液浓度OD600在0.4~1.2范围内,‘福云6号’成熟种子下胚轴发状根诱导率先升高后降低,ATCC15834在OD600为0.6时发状根诱导率最高为23.96%,A4和K599在OD600为0.8时,发状根诱导率最高,分别为10.51%和13.11%。(2)3种发根农杆菌致根能力不同,ATCC15834侵染力最强,致根能力大小依次为ATCC15834>K599>A4。(3)发状根诱导率与外植体有关,茶树成熟种子下胚轴可被诱导产生发状根,诱导率‘福云6号’大于‘铁观音’,未成熟种子下胚轴和愈伤组织难以产生发状根。(4)不经预培养和预培养时间为1~2 d的愈伤组织易褐变,无法产生发状根;预培养3 d的愈伤组织经侵染可产生发状根,诱导率为1.85%(‘福云6号’)和0.59%(‘铁观音’)。(5)PCR琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测和GUS组织化学染色证实GUS基因已被整合进‘福云6号’和‘铁观音’愈伤组织和成熟种子下胚轴发状根基因组中并表达。研究发现,发根农杆菌ATCC15834在OD600为0.6时,对茶树‘福云6号’成熟种子下胚轴发状根诱导率最高。该研究结果对改进发根农杆菌介导的茶树遗传转化系统提供理论依据,对茶树高效遗传转化体系的优化和新型受体的开发具有重要意义。     

Hyperaccumulation of nickel by hairy roots of alyssum species: comparison with whole regenerated plants

Hairy roots were used to investigate nickel uptake by the hyperaccumulator species, Alyssum bertolonii, A. tenium, and A. troodii. The Ni biosorption capacity of A. tenium hairy roots was lower than for other types of biomass such as bacteria and algae; in short-term (9-h) equilibrium studies, the highest Ni content measured in the roots was 17 500 microg g(-1) dry weight at a liquid concentration of about 4000 ppm. Using long-term hairy root cultures, it was demonstrated that Ni tolerance and hyperaccumulation do not necessarily depend on the presence of shoots or root-shoot translocation. A. bertolonii hairy roots remained healthy in appearance and continued to grow in the presence of 20-100 ppm Ni, accumulating up to 7200 microg g(-1) dry weight Ni. In contrast, hairy roots of Nicotiana tabacum turned dark brown at 20 ppm Ni and growth was negligible. The ability to grow at high external Ni concentrations allowed hyperaccumulator hairy roots to remove much greater amounts of heavy metals from the culture liquid than nonhyperaccumulator hairy roots, even though biomass Ni concentrations were similar. Although hairy roots proved to be a useful tool for investigating Ni hyperaccumulation, there were significant differences in the Ni uptake capacity of hairy roots and whole plants. Regenerated plants of A. tenium were much more tolerant of Ni and capable of accumulating higher Ni concentrations than hairy roots of this species.     

Shoot regeneration from GUS-transformed tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) hairy root

To study the influence of genetic background on the transformation and regeneration of cultivated tomato plants, hairy root lines of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) were obtained by inoculating the hypocotyl explants of three tomato cultivars with the Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain DCAR-2, which harbors the pBI-121 binary vector. The Ri-T-DNA transformation into the plant DNA was confirmed by both of mikimopine and GUS assay analyses. The regeneration efficiency from hairy root explants was assessed. The data indicated that white embryonic calli were formed within two weeks in the presence of 2 mgl(-1) 2, 4-D plus 0.25 mgl(-1) kinetin. Adventitious shoots emerged from the embryonic callus in the presence of 1 mgl(-1) GA3 along with 0.5 mgl(-1) NAA. The regeneration frequency was higher in the cultivar UC-97, followed by Momotaro and then Edkawi. Molecular confirmation of the integration of the GUS gene into the hairy root-derived plants genomes was done via PCR using GUS-specific primers and also using Southern blotting analysis. Our data shows that regeneration is possible from hairy roots of the cultivated tomato and this system could be used to produce transgenic tomato plants expressing the genes present in Agrobacterium rhizogenes binary vectors.