dsRNA介导的番木瓜环斑病毒（PRSV）的抗病性研究

以模式植物拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）和烟草（Nicotiana tabacum）及PRSV寄主植物番木瓜（CaricapapayaL.）作为试验材料,开展了番木瓜环斑病毒外壳蛋白基因dsRNA介导的PRSV病原抗性的研究。利用农杆菌介导法将番木瓜环斑病毒外壳蛋白CP基因反向重复表达载体pHellsgate12-CPIR（简称PHG12-CPIR）分别转化到烟草和拟南芥中,获得阳性植株,并利用渗透法和农杆菌介导的瞬时表达体系将pHG12-CPIR载体导入到番木瓜中。对转基因植株进行攻毒试验并分析了其抗病性。在接种3~7d内,在拟南芥和番木瓜上转基因植株的发病情况较轻,而野生型植株叶片与转基因植株相比,均表现出不同程度的黄化、皱缩和枯斑等症状。在接种PRSV后,番木瓜和拟南芥转化植株表现症状的叶片的比例与对照相比,结果显著低于对照,而在烟草植株上症状表现的差异不明显。在3种植物上RT-PCR检测结果显示,在接种番木瓜环斑病毒PRSV后,野生型植株中有高浓度的病毒积累,而转pHG12-CPIR基因植株中几乎没有病毒积累,推测转pHG12-CPIR基因植株中瞬时表达系统已启动RNAi机制抑制了CP基因的表达。     

花粉管通道法介导PRSV-CP基因dsRNA转化番木瓜

以番木瓜‘蔬罗Ⅰ号’植株为受体材料,采用花粉管通道技术将番木瓜环斑病毒外壳蛋白(PRSV-CP)基因3′-端同源序列dsRNA转入番木瓜子房中。用PCR方法对T0代种子进行了分子检测,获得53株转基因番木瓜,转化率达到8.9%;对获得的T0代转基因番木瓜进行了田间抗病性鉴定,结果表明,转基因番木瓜植株对番木瓜环斑病毒(PRSV)表现为不同程度的抗性,可以推迟发病。     

超声波辅助农杆菌介导CP基因转化番小瓜(Carioca papaya L.)的有效方法

本研究探索了通过农杆菌介导,超声波辅助处理,转化番木瓜胚性愈伤组织,获得转基因植株的有效方法。分别将含有日本PLDMV 外壳蛋白基因(PTi-Epj-TL-PLDMV)和含有台湾PRSV 菌株、美国夏威夷PRSV 菌株、泰国PRSV 菌株及日本PLDMV 菌株的多元外壳蛋白基因编码序列(PTi-NP-YKT)插入双元载体质粒pGA482G,借助于农杆菌系LBA4404将双元载体上的外壳蛋白基因和新霉素磷酸转移酶基因(nptⅡ)转移到番木瓜品种Sunset 的胚性愈伤组织中,从而获得抗卡那霉素的转化再生植株。试验着重在转化方法上进行探索。结果表明,农杆菌过夜培养后,用高渗透压培养液(1/2 MS 6%蔗糖 1%葡萄糖,pH 5.7)调整至光密度OD_(600(?)m)=0.15-0.20,然后用该菌液感染材料30min,其间辅以超声波处理,可以大大提高转化效率。用15ml 无菌离心管装载胚性愈伤材料进行15s 的超声波处理,在80块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得21个CP 基因G 转化系(26.3%),而在对照处理64块胚性愈伤中仅获得1个转化系(1.6%);在经过15s 的超声波处理48块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得8个CP 基因B 转化系(16.7%),而在对照处理25块胚性愈伤中未出现转化系。上述操作方法用在两种CP 基因转化上均表现出相似的效果。试验还表明:120mg/L 是卡那霉素抗性筛选的最佳浓度。抗性筛选9个月后,在421块胚性愈伤组织中产生了42个抗卡那霉素的转化系。所获得的转基因植株分别用PCR 和Southern 印迹杂交进行了鉴定。     

超声波辅助农杆菌介导CP基因转化番木瓜(Carioca papaya L.)的有效方法

本研究探索了通过农杆菌介导,超声波辅助处理,转化番木瓜胚性愈伤组织,获得转基因植株的有效方法.分别将含有日本PLDMV外壳蛋白基因(PTi-Epj-TL-PLDMV)和含有台湾PRSV菌株、美国夏威夷PRSV菌株、泰国PRSV菌株及日本PLDMV菌株的多元外壳蛋白基因编码序列(PTi-NP-YKT)插入双元载体质粒pGA482G,借助于农杆菌系LBA4404将双元载体上的外壳蛋白基因和新霉素磷酸转移酶基因(nptⅡ)转移到番木瓜品种Sunset的胚性愈伤组织中,从而获得抗卡那霉素的转化再生植株.试验着重在转化方法上进行探索.结果表明,农杆菌过夜培养后,用高渗透压培养液(1/2 MS+6%蔗糖+1%葡萄糖,pH 5.7)调整至光密度OD600nm=0.15-0.20,然后用该菌液感染材料30min,其间辅以超声波处理,可以大大提高转化效率.用15m1无菌离心管装载胚性愈伤材料进行15s的超声波处理,在80块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得21个CP基因G转化系(26.3%),而在对照处理64块胚性愈伤中仅获得1个转化系(1.6%);在经过15s的超声波处理48块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得8个CP基因B转化系(16.7%),而在对照处理25块胚性愈伤中未出现转化系.上述操作方法用在两种CP基因转化上均表现出相似的效果.试验还表明120mg/L是卡那霉素抗性筛选的最佳浓度.抗性筛选9个月后,在421块胚性愈伤组织中产生了42个抗卡那霉素的转化系.所获得的转基因植株分别用PCR和Southern印迹杂交进行了鉴定.     

超声波辅助农杆菌介导CP基因转化番木瓜（Carioca papaya L.）的有效方法

本研究探索了通过农杆菌介导,超声波辅助处理,转化番木瓜胚性愈伤组织,获得转基因植株的有效方法。分别将含有日本PLDMV外壳蛋白基因(PTi-Epj-TL-PLDMV)和含有台湾PRSV菌株、美国夏威夷PRSV菌株、泰国PRSV菌株及日本PLDMV菌株的多元外壳蛋白基因编码序列(PT—NP—YKT)插入双元栽体质粒pGA482G,借助于农杆菌系LBA4404将双元载体上的外壳蛋白基因和新霉素磷酸转移酶基因(nptⅡ)转移到番木瓜品种Sunset的胚性愈伤组织中,从而获得抗卡那霉素的转化再生植株。试验着重在转化方法上进行探索。结果表明,农杆菌过夜培养后,用高渗透压培养液(1／2MS 6％蔗糖 1％葡萄糖,pH5．7)调整至光密度OD600nm=15-0．20,然后用该菌液感染材料30min,其间辅以超声波处理,可以大大提高转化效率。用15ml无菌离心管装载胚性愈伤材料进行15s的超声波处理,在80块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得21个CP基因G转化系(26．3％),而在对照处理64块胚性愈伤中仅获得1个转化系(1．6％);在经过15s的超声波处理48块被转化的胚性愈伤中获得8个CP基因B转化系(16．7％),而在对照处理25块胚性愈伤中未出现转化系。上述操作方法用在两种CP基因转化上均表现出相似的效果。试验还表明：120mg／L是卡那霉素抗性筛选的最佳浓度。抗性筛选9个月后,在421块胚性愈伤组织中产生了42个抗卡那霉素的转化系。所获得的转基因植株分别用PCR和Southern印迹杂交进行了鉴定。     

T4转基因番木瓜遗传性和果实品质分析

对T 4代转基因番木瓜进行了分子生物学和果实品质分析,结果表明,筛选获得的转基因番木瓜均为转番木瓜环斑病毒(PRV)复制酶突变体基因(RP),且对PRV抗性达到了高抗或免疫,RP基因在转基因植物中能稳定遗传至后代并在RNA水平上表达。在田间种植时,转基因木瓜的生长状况普遍好于普通番木瓜,尤其在生长后期(10月以后),普通番木瓜100%发病(大规模种植时),而大部分(约91.8%)转基因植株生长良好,果实较多且表面光洁、基本上无环斑。与非转基因亲本相比,T 4代转基因番木瓜的果实长度增加2.6%~5%,果实直径变小0.6%~1.5%,果肉厚度增加了12%~15%,因而果实形状与亲本相近或更好,且信用价值更高。转基因番木瓜果实中水分、蛋白质、氮、脂肪、还原性糖、维生素A、维生素C和类胡萝卜素的含量与对照都无显著性差异,即转基因番木瓜与亲本具有实质等同性,这表明转入的外源基因对番木瓜果实品质没有不良影响。     

海南地区番木瓜花叶病病原的分子鉴定与多样性分析

番木瓜环斑病毒(Papaya ring spot virus,PRSV)和番木瓜畸形花叶病毒(Papaya leaf-distortion mosaic virus,PLDMV)是热带、亚热带地区严重威胁番木瓜农业生产的主要病害。本研究对27份疑似番木瓜花叶病病叶样品进行分子鉴定,提取病叶总RNA,反转录获得对应的cDNA,根据PRSV病毒的CP、P1、Hc-Pro和NIb基因序列和PLDMV病毒的CP基因序列设计特异性引物进行PCR检测和测序分析。研究发现PRSV感染20例(74.1%),PLDMV感染3例(11.1%),PRSV和PLDMV交叉感染的样品1例(3.7%)。多样性分析结果表明,海南地区PRSV病毒存在3个株系,株系之间出现明显分化;海南地区PLDMV病毒与日本和台湾地区报道的PLDMV病毒株系有共同的起源。研究结果表明PRSV和PLDMV是海南地区番木瓜花叶病的主要病原,其中PRSV病毒3个株系之间P1基因同源性在95%以下,这可为后续研究构建抗PRSV和PLDMV的双价表达载体提供数据支持。     

番木瓜eIF4E和eIFiso4E基因嵌合hpRNA载体一步快速构建及沉默效果的研究

番木瓜环斑病毒(Papaya ringspot virus,PRSV)严重威胁番木瓜种植业的发展,且目前没有十分有效的防治办法。病毒侵染植物依赖寄主因子的协助,真核翻译起始因子4E(eukaryotic initiation factor 4E,eIF4E)是多种RNA病毒侵染植物的必需因子。以番木瓜eIF4E家族基因为研究对象,构建同时干扰其eIF4E和eIFiso4E基因的发卡RNA(hairpin RNA,hpRNA)载体,并将其导入到番木瓜叶肉原生质中。通过荧光实时定量检测发现,番木瓜中eIF4E和eIFiso4E基因的表达量分别下降了49.8%和67.6%,这为进一步研究番木瓜eIF4E家族基因对PRSV侵染的影响以及利用RNA干扰技术靶向植物基因的病毒防治新策略提供理论和实践依据。     

转反义蜡质基因水稻亲本后代性状分析

以单质粒转化的粳稻广粳一号和双质粒共转化的籼稻01早5202所获得的转反义蜡质基因水稻后代为供试材料, 通过潮霉素抗性、PCR检测等手段分析了外源基因的遗传分离特性, 同时, 还分析了转基因材料的直链淀粉含量、waxy蛋白含量的变化特性。结果表明, 无论是采用标记基因(hpt)与目的基因(Anti-sense waxy)连锁的单质粒转化, 还是采用双质粒共转化, 其供试的后代植株材料都发生了外源基因分离现象, 且转基因植株材料的直链淀粉含量都有所下降, 有些单株的直链淀粉含量已降至10%(质量百分比)以下, 远低于对照(其直链淀粉含量为22.04%); SDS-PAGE检测结果显示, 供试的转基因材料的waxy蛋白的含量与对应的直链淀粉含量呈正相关性。     

转双价抗虫基因大白菜新种质的获得及其抗虫性分析

采用超声波辅助花粉介导方法,将双价抗虫基因BmkIT-Chitinase导入早熟型大白菜自交系20-19-3,最终获得了5个转基因大白菜优良自交系纯合株系Z1-5、Z2-7、Z9-6、Z11-6和Z20-13;以转基因大白菜株系和非转基因对照植株为材料,对BmkIT-Chitinase基因在大白菜中的遗传规律、基因表达及抗虫性进行进一步分析。结果显示:(1)转化株后代多代(T_1~T_4)PCR、Southern blotting等分子跟踪检测表明,目的基因已成功导入受体植株,且能够稳定遗传;用该转基因方法对大白菜进行基因转化所获得的转基因植株分析显示,外源基因多数以多拷贝形式整合于核基因组,少部分外源基因以单拷贝形式整合。(2)Elisa分析结果证明,所导入的外源基因可高效表达,T4代株系新鲜叶片中表达产物量最高达到0.069μg·g~(-1)左右。(3)转基因株系田间抗虫性统计分析表明,转化株系与对照在抗虫性方面有显著差异,其对小菜蛾及菜青虫抗性普遍提高2~3级。研究认为,转BmkIT-Chitinase基因大白菜中BmkIT-Chitinase基因的表达可有效提高大白菜的抗虫性。     

Transgene-specific and event-specific molecular markers for characterization of transgenic papaya lines resistant to Papaya ringspot virus

The commercially valuable transgenic papaya lines carrying the coat protein (CP) gene of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and conferring virus resistance have been developed in Hawaii and Taiwan in the past decade. Prompt and sensitive protocols for transgene-specific and event-specific detections are essential for traceability of these lines to fulfill regulatory requirement in EU and some Asian countries. Here, based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approaches, we demonstrated different detection protocols for characterization of PRSV CP-transgenic papaya lines. Transgene-specific products were amplified using different specific primer pairs targeting the sequences of the promoter, the terminator, the selection marker, and the transgene, and the region across the promoter and transgene. Moreover, after cloning and sequencing the DNA fragments amplified by adaptor ligation-PCR, the junctions between plant genomic DNA and the T-DNA insert were elucidated. The event-specific method targeting the flanking sequences and the transgene was developed for identification of a specific transgenic line. The PCR patterns using primers designed from the left or the right flanking DNA sequence of the transgene insert in three selected transgenic papaya lines were specific and reproducible. Our results also verified that PRSV CP transgene is integrated into transgenic papaya genome in different loci. The copy number of inserted T-DNA was further confirmed by real-time PCR. The event-specific molecular markers developed in this investigation are crucial for regulatory requirement in some countries and intellectual protection. Also, these markers are helpful for prompt screening of a homozygote-transgenic progeny in the breeding program.     

Analysis on virus resistance and fruit quality for T4 generation of transgenic papaya

Molecular biological characterization,fruit characters,and nutrients were analyzed for T4 generation of transgenic papaya.All transgenic papaya plants with the mutated replicase (RP) gene from papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) showed high resistance or immunity against PRSV in the field.The RP transgene can be steadily inherited to,and expressed at RNA level,the progenies.The growth characteristics of transgenic papaya were much better than nontransgenic papaya in the field.The non-transgenic papaya seedlings began to show typical symptoms caused by PRSV after being inoculated with PRSV.They died quickly and never grew to produce fruit.The adult trees developed yellow leaves and produced smaller fruits and were doomed to a slow death after some time,while most oftransgenic papaya plants (about 91.8%) did not show any symptoms caused by PRSV,and produced more,bigger,and high quality fruits.Compared with non-transgenic plants,the fresh fruit length of T4 generation of transgenic papaya increased 2.6%-5%,and the diameter decreased 0.6%-1.5%.The flesh thickness of fresh fruit increased 12%-15%,which made it fitter for eating.Although the fresh fruit quality changed,there was no significant difference between transgenic and non-transgenic papaya.The quality characteristics of dry fruit including the contents of water,lipid,N,protein,reduced sugar,vitamin A,vitamin C,and carotene in the T4 generation of transgenic papaya were all the same as their non-transgenic parents.This means that transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants are substantially equivalent,and the transgene has no effect on dry fruit quality.In this study,we found that vitamin A and vitamin C in red-fleshed papaya were 1.4-1.8 and 1.78-2.07 times more than the yellow-fleshed ones,respectively,while N and protein were only 84.2%-92.1% and 82.1%-98.9% of the yellow-fleshed ones.     

Analysis on virus resistance and fruit quality for T4 generation of transgenic papaya

Molecular biological characterization, fruit characters, and nutrients were analyzed for T4 generation of transgenic papaya. All transgenic papaya plants with the mutated replicase (RP) gene from papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) showed high resistance or immunity against PRSV in the field. The RP transgene can be steadily inherited to, and expressed at RNA level, the progenies. The growth characteristics of transgenic papaya were much better than non-transgenic papaya in the field. The non-transgenic papaya seedlings began to show typical symptoms caused by PRSV after being inoculated with PRSV. They died quickly and never grew to produce fruit. The adult trees developed yellow leaves and produced smaller fruits and were doomed to a slow death after some time, while most of transgenic papaya plants (about 91.8%) did not show any symptoms caused by PRSV, and produced more, bigger, and high quality fruits. Compared with non-transgenic plants, the fresh fruit length of T4 generation of transgenic papaya increased 2.6%–5%, and the diameter decreased 0.6%–1.5%. The flesh thickness of fresh fruit increased 12%–15%, which made it fitter for eating. Although the fresh fruit quality changed, there was no significant difference between transgenic and non-transgenic papaya. The quality characteristics of dry fruit including the contents of water, lipid, N, protein, reduced sugar, vitamin A, vitamin C, and carotene in the T4 generation of transgenic papaya were all the same as their non-transgenic parents. This means that transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants are substantially equivalent, and the transgene has no effect on dry fruit quality. In this study, we found that vitamin A and vitamin C in red-fleshed papaya were 1.4–1.8 and 1.78–2.07 times more than the yellow-fleshed ones, respectively, while N and protein were only 84.2%–92.1% and 82.1%–98.9% of the yellow-fleshed ones. Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(12): 3301–3306 [译自: 生态学报]     

A protocol for efficient transformation and regeneration of Carica papaya L.

Summary A reproducible and effective biolistic method for transforming papaya (Carica papaya L.) was developed with a transformation-regeneration system that targeted a thin layer of embryogenic tissue. The key factors in this protocol included: 1) spreading of young somatic embryo tissue that arose directly from excised immature zygotic embryos, followed by another spreading of the actively growing embryogenic tissue 3 d before biolistic transformation; 2) removal of kanamycin selection from all subsequent steps after kanamycin-resistant clusters were first isolated from induction media containing kanamycin; 3) transfer of embryos with finger-like extensions to maturation medium; and 4) transferring explants from germination to the root development medium only after the explants had elongating root initials, had at least two green true leaves, and were about 0.5 to 1.0 cm tall. A total of 83 transgenic papaya lines expressing the nontranslatable coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) were obtained from somatic embryo clusters that originated from 63 immature zygotic embryos. The transformation efficiency was very high: 100% of the bombarded plates produced transgenic plants. This also represents an average of 55 transgenic lines per gram fresh weight, or 1.3 transgenic lines per embryo cluster that was spread. We validated this procedure in our laboratory by visiting researchers who did four independent projects to transform seven papaya cultivars with coat protein gene constructs of PRSV strains from four different countries. The method is described in detail and should be useful for the routine transformation and regeneration of papaya. Based in part on a presentation at the 1997 SIVB Congress on In Vitro Biology held in Washington, DC, June 14–18, 1997.     

Papaya ringspot virus-P: characteristics, pathogenicity, sequence variability and control

TAXONOMY: Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is an aphid-transmitted plant virus belonging to the genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae, with a positive sense RNA genome. PRSV isolates belong to either one of two major strains, P or W. The P strains infect both papaya and cucurbits whereas the W strains infect only cucurbits. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: PRSV-P is found in all major papaya-growing areas. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: Virions are filamentous, non-enveloped and flexuous measuring 760-800 x 12 nm. Virus particles contain 94.5% protein and 5.5% nucleic acid. The protein component consists of the virus coat protein (CP), which has a molecular weight of about 36 kDa as estimated by Western blot analysis. Density of the sedimenting component in purified PRSV preparations is 1.32 g/cm(3) in CsCl. GENOME: The PRSV genome consists of a unipartite linear single-stranded positive sense RNA of 10 326 nucleotides with a 5' terminus, genome-linked protein, VPg. TRANSMISSION: The virus is naturally transmitted via aphids in a non-persistent manner. Both the CP and helper component (HC-Pro) are required for vector transmission. This virus can also be transmitted mechanically, and is typically not seed-transmitted. HOSTS: PRSV has a limited number of hosts belonging to the families Caricaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Propagation hosts are: Carica papaya, Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis metuliferus cv. accession 2459. Local lesion assay hosts are: Chenopodium quinoa and Chenopodium amaranticolor. CONTROL: Two transgenic papaya varieties, Rainbow and SunUp, with engineered resistance to PRSV have been commercially grown in Hawaii since 1998. Besides transgenic resistance, tolerant varieties, cross-protection and other cultural practices such as isolation and rogueing of infected plants are used to manage the disease. VIRUS CODE: 00.057.0.01.045. VIRUS ACCESSION NUMBER: 57010045. USEFUL LINK: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/57010045.htm.     

Efficient transformation of papaya by coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus mediated byAgrobacterium following liquid-phase wounding of embryogenic tissues with caborundum

Summary Generation of transgenic papaya (Carica papaya L.) has been hampered by the low rates of transformation achieved by conventionalAgrobacterium infection or microprojectile bombardment. We describe an efficientAgrobacterium-mediated transformation method based on wounding of cultured embryogenic tissues with carborundum in liquid phase. Embryogenic tissues were obtained from cultured immature zygotic embryos collected 75–90 days after pollination. The expressible coat protein (CP) gene of a Taiwan strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was constructed in a Ti binary vector pBGCP, which contained the NPT-II gene as a selection marker. The embryogenic tissues were vortexed with 600 mesh carborundum in sterile distilled water for 1 min before treating with the disarmedA. tumefaciens containing the pBGCP. Transformed cells were cultured on kanamycin-free medium containing 2,4-D and carbenicillin for 2–3 weeks and then on the kanamycin medium for 3–4 months. The developed somatic embryos were transferred to the medium containing NAA, BA and kanamycin and subsequently regenerated into normal-appearing plants. Presence of the PRSV CP gene in the putative transgenic lines was detected by PCR and the expression of the CP was verified by Western blotting. The transgene was nuclearly inherited as revealed by segregation analysis in the backcrossed R₁ progeny. From five independent experiments, the average successful rate of transformation was 15.9% of the zygotic embryos treated (52 transgenic somatic embryo clusters out of 327 zygotic embryos treated), about 10–100 times higher than the available methods previously reported. Thus, wounding highly regenerable differentiating tissues by carborundum vortexing provides a simple and efficient way for papaya transformation mediated byAgrobacterium.     

Assaying for Pollen Drift from Transgenic ‘Rainbow’ to Nontransgenic ‘Kapoho’ Papaya under Commercial and Experimental Field Conditions in Hawaii

In 1992, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was discovered in the Puna district of Hawaii island where 95% of the state of Hawaii’s papaya was being grown. By 1998 production in Puna had decreased 50% from 1992 levels. A PRSV-resistant transgenic papaya ‘Rainbow’ containing the coat protein gene of PRSV was released commercially in Hawaii in 1998, and saved the papaya industry from further devastation. In the ensuing years since the release of the transgenic papaya, a number of farmers grew hermaphrodite nontransgenic ‘Kapoho’ papaya in close proximity to plantings of hermaphrodite transgenic ‘Rainbow’ papaya. These plantings provided a unique opportunity to assay for transgenic-pollen drift under commercial conditions. Between 2004 and 2010, assays for the GUS (beta-glucuronidase) transgene in embryos were done to study transgenic-pollen drift in commercial ‘Kapoho’ plantings and in replicated field plots. Very low pollen drift (0.8%) was detected in fruit of ‘Kapoho’ trees in the border row of one plantation when 90 embryos were assayed per fruit, while no pollen drift was detected in four other commercial plantings in which eight embryos were tested per fruit. Pollen drift averaged 1.3% of tested embryos in field plots where individual hermaphrodite ‘Kapoho’ trees were adjacent to two or four ‘Rainbow’ trees. In contrast, 67.4% of tested embryos were GUS positive in similarly located female ‘Kapoho’ trees. The very low transgene flow to close-by ‘Kapoho’ plantings is likely due to the fact that hermaphrodite trees are used commercially in Hawaii and that these trees are largely self-pollinated before the stigma is exposed to external pollen.     

Characterization of Insertion Sites in Rainbow Papaya, the First Commercialized Transgenic Fruit Crop

Inserts and insert sites in transgenic, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV)-resistant commercial papaya Rainbow and SunUp, were characterized as part of a petition to Japan to allow import of fresh fruit of these cultivars from the U.S. and to provide data for a larger study aimed at understanding the global impact of DNA transformation on whole genome structure. The number and types of inserts were determined by Southern analysis using probes spanning the entire transformation plasmid and their sequences determined from corresponding clones or sequence reads from the whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequence of SunUp papaya. All the functional transgenes, coding for the PRSV coat protein (CP), neophosphotransferase (nptII) and β-glucuronidase (uidA) were found in a single 9,789 basepair (bp) insert. Only two other inserts, one consisting of a 290 bp nonfunctional fragment of the nptII gene and a 1,533 bp plasmid-derived fragment containing a nonfunctional 222 bp segment of the tetA gene were detected in Rainbow and SunUp. Detection of the same three inserts in samples representing transgenic generations five to eight (R5 to R8) suggests that the three inserts are stably inherited. Five out of the six genomic DNA segments flanking the three inserts were nuclear plastid sequences (nupts). From the biosafety standpoint, no changes to endogenous gene function based on sequence structure of the transformation plasmid DNA insertion sites could be determined and no allergenic or toxic proteins were predicted from analysis of the insertion site and flanking genomic DNA.