茶树SBP box转录因子的比较基因组学与遗传分析

SQUAMOSA启动子结合蛋白(SBP box)是植物特异性转录因子,在植物生长发育中发挥重要作用。该研究利用生物信息学分析方法,对不同‘铁观音’、‘黄棪’、‘舒茶早’和‘龙井43’茶树基因组的SBP基因进行鉴定和比较,通过qRT PCR技术分析CsTGY_SBP家族成员在不同茶树品种中的表达模式,为探究SBP基因在茶树杂种和亲本上的遗传规律提供参考。结果显示：(1)在茶树品种‘铁观音’、‘黄棪’、‘舒茶早’和‘龙井43’基因组中分别鉴定出21个、25个、24个和23个SBP家族基因。(2)系统进化树将其分为8个亚家族,共线性分析发现茶树和拟南芥、葡萄的SBP基因共线性关系与水稻相比更强,同物种内发现‘铁观音’与‘黄棪’的共线性关系更显著。(3)qRT PCR结果表明,CsTGY_SBP5、CsTGY_SBP9和CsTGY_SBP14在F₁‘金观音’中呈中亲表达的模式;大部分CsTGY_SBPs基因在F₁‘黄观音’呈低于双亲表达模式,CsTGY_SBP5和CsTGY_SBP8在F₁‘金牡丹’中显著高于亲本;CsTGY_SBP5、CsTGY_SBP7、CsTGY_SBP12、CsTGY_SBP16和CsTGY_SBP18在F₁‘紫玫瑰’中的表达量显著高于亲本,呈超高亲表达的模式;CsTGY_SBPs基因在F₁‘紫牡丹’中整体表达趋于亲本铁观音,在F₁‘瑞香’中整体呈现低于亲本‘黄棪’的表达模式。研究表明,CsTGY_SBP5在F₁‘金牡丹’和F₁‘紫玫瑰’中的表达均显著高于亲本,推测CsTGY_SBP5可能是茶树杂种优势的重要调控因子。     

文心兰不育花粉粒形态观察及相关基因克隆与表达分析

该研究以文心兰品种‘柠檬绿’（雄性不育）和‘巧克力’（可育）为试验材料,对花粉团和花粉粒的形态进行观察,并在转录组数据分析的基础上,利用RT PCR技术从‘柠檬绿’中克隆了1个MYB转录因子基因（OnMYB106）,用qRT PCR技术分析该基因的相对表达量,以初步鉴定‘柠檬绿’花粉败育特征,揭示花粉败育与OnMYB106基因的调控关系。结果显示：（1）‘柠檬绿’花粉团药室明显变扁,外壁凹陷、皱缩。（2）‘柠檬绿’花粉细胞内含物缺失,细胞质空泡化严重,花粉粒形态异常,花粉壁发育不连续,有许多孔洞（并非萌发孔）。（3）成功克隆获得‘柠檬绿’MYB106的基因序列,命名为OnMYB106,其开放阅读框为819 bp,编码272个氨基酸;其基因组序列与cDNA比对显示,OnMYB106基因含有3个外显子和2个内含子。（4）生物信息学分析表明,OnMYB106属于SANT 超家族,具有2个连续的MYB DNA binding结构域,是一个典型的R2R3 MYB转录因子;进化树分析表明,OnMYB106与高粱、水稻和二穗短柄草的MYB106蛋白序列的一致性最高,进化距离最近。（5）qRT PCR分析显示,OnMYB106在‘柠檬绿’花粉团中下调表达;该基因在‘柠檬绿’不同组织器官中均有表达,但在花中表达量最高,假鳞茎中表达量最低;在不同花期中,花苞期表达量最高,盛开期只有微量表达。研究认为,‘柠檬绿’花粉壁发育异常可能导致其花粉败育;OnMYB106基因可能在‘柠檬绿’花器官的生长发育中起重要的调控作用,并且该基因可能属于花粉发育“早期”表达基因,主要影响‘柠檬绿’花粉壁的的形成。     

青稞NBS LRR类基因HvtRGA的克隆与条纹病胁迫表达分析

为探索青稞(Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum)NBS LRR类基因在青稞抗条纹病中的分子作用机制,该研究以抗条纹病青稞品种‘昆仑14号’和感病品种‘Z1141’为材料,从叶片中克隆了HvtRGA 基因。HvtRGA基因长3 544 bp,包含一个3 306 bp开放阅读框,编码1 101个氨基酸。序列测序后比对发现,‘昆仑14号’与‘Z1141’的碱基序列相似性为99.89%,‘Z1141’的碱基在1196和1945位置处由G替换成A,但氨基酸序列相似性为100%。蛋白质序列分析表明,HvtRGA为亲水性的不稳定酸性蛋白,具有NB ARC保守结构域和5个LRR结构域,属于 NBS LRR 家族。HvtRGA蛋白与大麦的rgaS 9217、rgaS 226编码的NBS LRR氨基酸序列相似性分别为96.55%和88.72%。进化树分析表明,青稞与小麦族的大麦、硬粒小麦和二穗短柄草NBS LRR聚为一个分支,且与大麦 rgaS 9217编码的蛋白亲缘关系最近,其次是大麦rgaS 226编码的蛋白,而与狗尾草和栗的亲缘关系最远。qRT PCR结果表明,条纹病胁迫下,抗病品种和感病品种的HvtRGA基因的表达量极显著升高,且抗病品种‘昆仑14号’感病后基因表达量显著高于感病品种‘Z1141’。研究推测,HvtRGA 基因在青稞抗条纹病的调控过程中可能发挥着重要作用。     

Pi-ta+基因和几丁质酶基因双价基因导入水稻的研究

为了提高‘云资粳41’和‘云资粳43’的抗稻瘟病能力,利用农杆菌介导法将二价表达载体pCAMBIA1300-Pi-ta⁺-Bchi转化到水稻愈伤组织中。经组织培养获得再生苗,再通过氯酚红显色法、PCR检测和抗稻瘟病鉴定法获得抗稻瘟病的转基因植株,为进一步创建持久、广谱抗稻瘟病水稻新材料奠定基础。结果显示:(1)抗性愈伤组织经分化和生根培养后,共获得T⁰代水稻再生苗137株,其中‘云资粳41’14株,‘中花11’82株,‘云资粳43’41株。(2)经氯酚红显色法和PCR对再生苗检测,‘中花11’、‘云资粳41’、‘云资粳43’的转化苗阳性率分别为66%、43%和55%。证明2个外源基因已经整合到水稻基因组中。(3)对转化阳性植株温室接种稻瘟病病菌66b鉴定结果显示,转基因植株较非转基因植株对稻瘟病的抗性明显增强,而且转Pi-ta⁺基因和几丁质酶基因双价的水稻植株比转单价Pi-ta⁺基因或几丁质酶基因的水稻植株抗稻瘟病能力强。（4）氯酚红检测结果存在一定的假阳性,PCR检测结果更真实可靠,但氯酚红显色法方便、快速,结果观察直观,可对大量的转基因植株进行初步筛选。研究表明,转Pi-ta⁺基因和几丁质酶基因双价基因的水稻植株具有更高的抗稻瘟病能力。     

不结球白菜BcMLPK基因在自交不亲和中的功能研究

该研究以不结球白菜(Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino)自交不亲和系品种‘矮脚黄’为实验材料,利用VIGS技术将BcMLPK基因构建到pTY载体,进行定量分析,研究其在自交不亲和中的功能。结果表明：(1) BcMLPK基因序列长为1 443 bp,编码480个氨基酸,将BcMLPK蛋白氨基酸序列与其他物种的MLPK氨基酸比较表明,BcMLPK基因与其他物种中该基因具有高度保守的结构域。(2) 成功构建pTY BcMLPK载体,采用基因枪法侵染‘矮脚黄’,其新生的真叶有明显的花叶症状,选取发病的叶片及花蕾进行实时定量qRT PCR,发现侵染的植株中BcMLPK基因表达量约为对照组的50%。(3) 花期对植株进行自交授粉,实验组有明显的结荚现象,而对照组则出现雌蕊未能明显伸长,显示受精异常的现象;统计结果表明实验组的自交不亲和指数和结实率均高于对照组。研究表明,不结球白菜MLPK基因的沉默能够抑制‘矮脚黄’自交不亲和相关基因BcMLPK的转录水平表达。     

李果实有机酸组成特征及其与苹果酸转运体基因PsALMT9和PstDT的相关性

为了阐明李果实有机酸组成特征及其与苹果酸转运体基因PsALMT9、PstDT的相关性,该研究以‘皇冠李’(Prunus salicina ‘Huangguan’)和‘黑琥珀李’(Prunus salicina ‘Black Amber’)为试材,测定了不同发育阶段果实有机酸组分与含量、可滴定酸含量、pH、单果重,采用实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)分析了苹果酸转运体基因PsALMT9和PstDT在果实生长发育过程中的表达变化规律,并通过Pearson相关系数探讨PsALMT9和PstDT基因与果实有机酸的相关性。结果显示：(1)‘皇冠李’和‘黑琥珀李’果实各发育阶段主要有机酸组分为苹果酸(占73.83%~92.10%),其次为酒石酸(占4.59%~14.26%),柠檬酸、草酸、乙酸和琥珀酸含量较低(0.47%~7.21%),富马酸仅以微量存在。(2)果实苹果酸含量与可滴定酸含量呈极显著正相关关系,与pH呈极显著负相关关系;PsALMT9表达量与酒石酸含量呈显著正相关关系,与乙酸和草酸含量呈极显著正相关关系;PstDT表达量与柠檬酸、可滴定酸含量呈显著正相关关系,但PsALMT9和PstDT均与苹果酸含量的相关性较低。研究发现,‘皇冠李’和‘黑琥珀李’属于苹果酸型果实,果实酸度主要由苹果酸决定;PsALMT9基因可能同时参与酒石酸、乙酸和草酸的跨液泡膜转运,PstDT基因可能参与柠檬酸的跨液泡膜转运,而苹果酸跨液泡膜转运过程可能与PsALMT9、PstDT等多种膜蛋白基因的协同调控有关。     

水稻BCAT4基因突变株幼苗对PEG模拟干旱胁迫的响应

以水稻野生型‘日本晴’(NIP)及其BCAT4基因突变体BCAT4 1为材料,在苗期进行PEG 6000模拟干旱处理,分析其对幼苗形态、生长和抗逆生理指标的影响,以探究BCAT4基因在水稻响应干旱胁迫中的作用。结果表明：(1)20% PEG处理后野生型NIP幼苗叶片中BCAT4表达量显著高于对照(处理0 d),复水后幼苗存活率显著高于突变体BCAT4 1。(2)20% PEG处理后,两水稻材料幼苗叶片的相对叶绿素含量下降,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量上升,抗氧化酶活性先上升后下降,且突变体BCAT4 1中上述各指标均显著低于同期NIP。(3)两材料幼苗叶片中丙二醛和过氧化氢含量及相对电导率随胁迫处理天数增加而上升,且BCAT4 1均显著高于同期NIP。(4)在20% PEG处理后,两水稻材料间根系各形态、生长和生理指标的差异均小于相应叶片。研究发现,BCAT4基因突变加剧了干旱胁迫下水稻幼苗叶片叶绿素含量的下降,抑制了地上部渗透调节物质的积累及抗氧化酶活性上升的幅度,促进了丙二醛和过氧化氢积累以及相对电导率增加,从而降低了水稻的耐旱性。     

秋石斛钙依赖蛋白激酶基因的克隆及表达分析

钙依赖蛋白激酶(calcium dependent protein kinase,CDPK)在植物的生长发育及逆境胁迫方面发挥着重要作用。该研究以秋石斛品种‘水芙蓉’为试验材料,采用 RT PCR方法克隆钙依赖蛋白激酶基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析;采用qRT PCR方法对CDPKs基因在‘水芙蓉’不同组织及不同低温胁迫下的表达情况进行分析,为秋石斛CDPK基因的功能验证以及抗寒分子机制研究奠定基础。结果表明：(1)成功克隆获得了DenCDPK1(GenBank登录号为MZ322902)、DenCDPK2(GenBank登录号为MZ322903)、DenCDPK3(GenBank登录号为MZ322904)基因,序列长度依次为1 934、1 971和2 302 bp,分别编码534、541和536个氨基酸。 (2)序列一致性结果显示,DenCDPKs蛋白质与铁皮石斛相应CDPK蛋白质序列的一致性均高于97%,且DenCDPKs均存在STKc_CAMK结构域和4个EF hand结构域。(3)qRT PCR分析显示,DenCDPK1、DenCDPK2和DenCDPK3基因均在叶中高表达,分别在茎、花、茎中低表达;且‘水芙蓉’叶片中DenCDPK1和DenCDPK2的表达量高于其他3个供试品种;经8 ℃胁迫12 h后,叶片中DenCDPKs的表达量均显著高于对照组(25 ℃条件下),且DenCDPK3的表达量在0 ℃胁迫12 h时达到最高值。(4)常温(25 ℃)下‘水芙蓉’叶片中的相对电导率显著低于其他3个供试品种;经低温(8 ℃、0 ℃)胁迫12 h后,叶片中的相对电导率均显著高于对照组,且随温度的降低呈上升趋势。研究认为,DenCDPKs基因可能参与秋石斛低温胁迫的响应过程,特别是DenCDPK2可能在秋石斛抗寒过程中发挥着重要作用。     

黄毛草莓FnMYB24转录因子基因和启动子的克隆及表达分析

该研究以黄毛草莓(Fragaria nilgerrensis Schltdl.)为材料,采用RT PCR技术克隆了黄毛草莓FnMYB24基因的cDNA和启动子序列。生物信息学分析表明,FnMYB24的cDNA序列长为1 033 bp(GenBank登录号为MN879283),其开放阅读框(ORF)长为609 bp,编码202个氨基酸,含有1个保守的MYB_DNA binding结构域。同源分析结果显示,黄毛草莓FnMYB24基因编码的氨基酸序列与森林草莓(Fragaria vesca)编码的氨基酸相似性较高;同时进一步克隆了该基因编码起始位点上游长度为718 bp启动子序列(GenBank登录号为MN879285),预测该序列包含激素响应元件、光调控元件等多个顺式作用元件。通过构建pFnMYB24∷GUS表达载体进行烟草瞬时转化,发现pFnMYB24启动子具有转录活性且能够驱动FnMYB24基因表达。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示：抗病品种黄毛草莓和易感病栽培品种‘妙香3号’的叶片接种胶孢炭疽菌(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)后MYB24基因表达量均有上调,但‘妙香3号’的MYB24表达量始终低于黄毛草莓的表达量;SA处理后2个草莓品种的MYB24表达量均高于对照组,表明MYB24基因受水杨酸(SA)的诱导表达。研究表明,草莓MYB24基因可能参与调控抗炭疽病,为进一步研究MYB24基因在草莓抗炭疽病中的功能奠定了基础。     

‘砀山酥梨’褐皮芽变中两个ERF基因的克隆与表达分析

为了解梨(Pyrus bretschneideri)中ERF基因的功能, 采用3'' RACE 和PCR 技术从‘砀山酥梨’中克隆了两个ERF基因, 并对其表达进行了分析。克隆的两个ERF基因都具有典型的AP2/ERF 结构域, 属于ERF基因家族, 分别命名为PbERF2 和PbERF4, GenBank 登录号分别为KJ623716 和KJ623718。系统进化分析表明, PbERF2 与枇杷ERF1, PbERF4 与黄瓜ERF1的亲缘关系较近。表达分析表明, PbERF2 和PbERF4 在叶片中几乎不表达, 果皮中的表达量高于果肉;‘锈酥’果皮3 个发育时期的PbERF2 和 PbERF4 表达量均显著高于‘砀山酥梨’, 且均呈现先上升后下降的趋势。这为深入研究梨ERF基因家族的作用机理提供了理论依据。     

Essential amino acids of starch synthase IIa differentiate amylopectin structure and starch quality between <Emphasis Type="Italic">japonica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">indica</Emphasis> rice varieties

Four amino acids were variable between the ‘active’ indica-type and ‘inactive’ japonica-type soluble starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) of rice plants; Glu-88 and Gly-604 in SSIIa of indica-cultivars IR36 and Kasalath were replaced by Asp-88 and Ser-604, respectively, in both japonica cultivars Nipponbare and Kinmaze SSIIa, whereas Val-737 and Leu-781 in indica SSIIa were replaced by Met-737 in cv. Nipponbare and Phe-781 in cv. Kinmaze SSIIa, respectively. The SSIIa gene fragments shuffling experiments revealed that Val-737 and Leu-781 are essential not only for the optimal SSIIa activity, but also for the capacity to synthesize indica-type amylopectin. Surprisingly, however, a combination of Phe-781 and Gly-604 could restore about 44% of the SSIIa activity provided that Val-737 was conserved. The introduction of the ‘active’ indica-type SSIIa gene enabled the japonica-type cv. Kinmaze to synthesize indica-type amylopectin. The starch in the transformed japonica rice plants exhibited gelatinization-resistant properties that are characteristic of indica-rice starch. Transformed lines expressing different levels of the IR36 SSIIa protein produced a variety of starches with amylopectin chain-length distribution patterns that correlated well with their onset temperatures of gelatinization. The present study confirmed that the SSIIa activity determines the type of amylopectin structure of rice starch to be either the typical indica-type or japonica-type, by playing a specific role in the synthesis of the long B₁ chains by elongating short A and B₁ chains, notwithstanding the presence of functional two additional SSII genes, a single SSI gene, two SSIII genes, and two SSIV genes in rice plants.     

An improvedAgrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for recalcitrant elite indica rice cultivars

We report here a high-efficiency transformation protocol for recalcitrant indica rice cultivars IR64 and IR72 with the selectable marker genehph and thegusA reporter gene. Factors that favor high-efficiency transformation were found to be use of 2-month-old mature seed-derived embryogenic calli, maltose as a source of carbon, a higher concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and both phytagel and agar as gelling agents. The putative transgenic (T₀) plants were analyzed for integration of the transgene through polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting analyses. Various factors thought to be responsible for increased transformation efficiency are discussed.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of japonica and indica rice varieties

Genetic transformation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) mediated by Agrobacterium ttumefaciens has been confirmed for japonica varieties and extended to include the more recalcitrant indica varieties. Immature embryos were inoculated with either A. tumefaciens At656 (pCNL56) or LBA4404 (pTOK233). Experimental conditions were developed initially for immature embryos treated with strain At656, based upon both transient and stable -glucuromdase (GUS) activities. However, plant regeneration following selection on G418 (pCNL56 contained the nptII gene) did not occur. Using the same basic protocol, but inoculating immature embryos of rice with LBA4404 (pTOK233), resulted in efficient (about 27%) production of transgenic plants of the japonica variety, Radon, and an acceptable efficiency (from 1–5%) for the indica varieties IR72 and TCS10. Transformation was based upon resistance to hygromycin (pTOK233 contains the hpt gene), the presence of GUS activity (from the gusA gene), Southern blots for detection of the integrated gusA gene, and transmission of GUS activity to progeny in a Mendelian 3:1 segregation ratio. Southern blots indicated two to three copies of the gene integrated in most transformants. Transgenic plants of both the japonica and indica varieties were self-fertile and comparable in this respect to seed-grown plants. Key factors facilitating the transformation of rice by Agrobacterium tumefaciens appeared to be the use of embryos as the expiant, the use of hygromycin as the selection agent (which does not interfere with rice regeneration), the presence of extra copies of certain vir genes on the binary vector of pTOK233, and maintaining high concentrations of acetosyringone for inducing the vir genes during co-cultivation of embryos with Agrobacterium.Abbreviations AS acetosyringone - DMRT Duncan's Multiple Range Test - GUS -glucuronidase - T-DNA transferred DNA We wish to thank Dr. Toshihiko Komari, Japan Tobacco Inc. for providing Ayrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 (pTOK322). Support by the Rockefeller Foundation in the form of a fellowship to R.R.A. and a grant to T.K.H. is acknowledged. This is journal paper number 14,914 from the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Javanica rice

Difficulties frequently encountered using direct DNA transfer methods for transformation of Javanica varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) have limited the application of biotechnology to these varieties. We now reportAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of Javanica cultivars Gulfmont and Jefferson that are, respectively, widely used or about to enter commercial cultivation in the southern USA. Vigorous, phenotypically normal, fertile plants expressing both the selectable marker and the gene of interest were obtained. Southern analysis showed that only one or two copies of the T-DNA insert were present. Sequence analysis of right border fragments of one line confirmed that insertion was into a coding region of rice nuclear DNA. This analysis also revealed the presence of relatively short regions of permuted T-DNA border sequences, similar to those found afterAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of dicots. Progeny analysis of lines bearing two copies showed co-segregation, indicating that they were located relatively closely on the same chromosome. The introduced genes were transmitted to the R₁ and R₂ generations in a Mendelian fashion, confirming the suitability of this approach for biotechnological improvement of elite rice cultivars.     

An approach to cloning of Pi-b rice blast resistance gene

A contig of clones from BAC rice genomic library encompassing blast resistance gene Pi-b was constructed. On an average eight clones (8 ± 2.6) were picked up by each marker, which was expected basing on the BAC library size (Nakamura et al. 1997). The 2.4 cM distance between flanking RFLP markers G 1234 and RZ 213 (Miyamoto et al. 1996) was spanned with 4 steps of contig including 25 clones. The physical distance of 370 kb between flanking markers corresponds to a small ratio of physical and genetical distances (155 kb/cM) due to a probable structure of the gene locus near the telomeric end of the chromosome. Markers cosegregating with blast resistance against Magnoporthe grisea were localized in a 2 kb restriction fragment. A new border marker was found on the telomeric side of the Pi-b gene, less than 10 kb from cosegregating markers. No clear marker for the centromeric side of the gene was found but the position of Pi-b rice blast resistant gene was narrowed to within at least 50 kb, which is to our knowledge the most precised estimation of the position of this gene.     

Alkaline phosphatase activities of anAnabaena sp. from deep-water rice

Anabaena sp. grew with mono- and di-ester phosphate compounds as sources of phosphate, indicating the presence of phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) and phosphodiesterase (PDEase) activities. Cell-bound PMEase and PDEase activities were detected during growth in 0.5 and 10 mg PO₄l^–1 only when the cellular phosphate concentration fell to 0.46% of cell protein and the activities increased as cellular phosphate content decreased. The K_m values for these enzymes were 0.3mm forp-nitrophenyl phosphate and 0.2mm for bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, respectively. Only PMEase activity was found extracellularly. The pH optima for PMEase and PDEase were 10.2 and 10.4, respectively, and the temperature optima at pH 10.2 were 37°C and 40°C, respectively. Ca²⁺ increased the enzyme activities while Zn²⁺ caused marked inhibition. The inorganic phosphate repressed the cellular PMEase activity after a lag of 4 h.     

Expression and characterization of monocot rice cytosolic CuZnSOD protein in dicot Arabidopsis

Cytosolic CuZnSOD removes deleterious superoxides from plant cells. In order to understand its function better, we sought to express a monocot CuZnSODgene in transgenic Arabidopsis. We constructed a transgene usingthe CaMV 35S promoter to express a rice cytosolic CuZnSOD gene in Arabidopsis and generated over 200 transformants. A 16kD polypeptide, the same size as the native rice CuZnSOD polypeptide, was detected inthe transgenic Arabidopsis. Interestingly, two forms of riceCuZnSOD, rSODI and rSODII, having the same dimeric size, were detectedin the transgenic plants. rSODII protein was relatively abundant but hadlow specific activity. In contrast, rSODI protein was relatively rareand had high specific activity. Inter-conversion of rSODI and rSODIIcould be achieved by the addition and removal of copper ions into the purifiedrecombinant SOD and to the leaf extract of transgenic plants. Ouranalysis indicates that rSODI most likely corresponds to native riceCuZnSOD that has incorporated the Cu and Zn ions required for fullactivity, whereas the less active rSODII form may not have properlyincorporated the necessary copper ions.     

Accessing genes in the tertiary gene pool of rice by direct introduction of total DNA fromZizania palustris (wild rice)

Transfer of useful genes from wild relatives of crop plants has relied upon successful conventional crossing or the availability of the cloned gene. Co-bombardment of rice callus with total genomic DNA from wild rice (Zizania palustris) and a plasmid containing a gene confirming hygromycin resistance allowed recovery under selection of transgenic plants with grain characteristics from wild rice. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis suggested that a significant amount of DNA fromZizania was introduced by this procedure. One plant had 16 of a possible 122Zizania specific AFLP markers detected with the primers used. This approach may have potential for introgression of genes from wild relatives in other cases where highly efficient transformation methods are available.