转基因植物对农业生物多样性的影响

论述了近年来转基因植物对农业生态系统生物多样性影响的研究进展．主要在遗传多样性、物种多样性和生态系统多样性3个层次上予以评述．包括转基因植物对作物遗传多样性的影响;转基因植物的外源基因向杂草和近缘野生种转移;转基因抗虫植物对目标害虫的影响。抗除草剂转基因植物对作物和杂草的影响,抗病毒转基因植物对病毒的影响;转基因植物对非目标生物的影响,对土壤生态系统的影响等．     

转基因作物对土壤微生物的影响

全球范围内转基因农作物的大量种植不仅带来巨大的经济利益,同时也引发了人们关于转基因作物对包含土壤微生物在内的土壤生态系统的潜在风险的忧虑.转基因作物对土壤微生物的影响包括外源基因表达蛋白对非靶标土壤微生物的直接影响,也包括因外源基因导入而植物根系分泌物组分变化引起的间接影响.目前,对转基因作物的大多数研究表明,转基因作物能引起土壤微生物种群数量和结构的变化.但是,转基因作物对土壤微生物的影响力度有大有小,持续时间有长有短,评价不一.本文综述了不同种类转基因作物对土壤微生物的影响,对转基因作物种类、试验技术和原则等影响评价结果准确性的因素进行了讨论,提出了进一步研究需要注意的问题.     

转基因植物中外源基因及其表达产物转移的途径

随着转基因植物商品化应用的增多,全面了解转基因植物潜在的生态风险性尤为重要。国内外对“转基因植物中外源基因向野生亲缘物种漂移的可能性”、“昆虫对抗虫转基因植物的耐受性”以及“转基因植物对生物多样性的潜在影响”等问题已进行了广泛研究。对转基因植物中外源基因及其表达产物的几种可能转移途径作了概述。着重介绍了“经花粉散布或与野生亲缘物种杂交等途径引起的外源基因转移”以及“转基因植物对土壤生态系统的影响”等方面的研究情况。此外,还对“鉴定外源基因及其表达产物存在的方法”进行了简要探讨。     

转基因植物根系分泌物对土壤微生态的影响

随着转基因植物商品化进程的加快,对其进行生态风险性评价日益引起学者的重视。诸如转基因逃逸到其它亲缘物种中、产生超级杂草和病毒、昆虫产生耐受性及生物多样性遭受破坏等问题已在部分转基因作物中显现。本文综述了转基因植物中根系分泌物对土壤微生态的影响。     

土壤环境中转基因植物重组DNA持留与水平转移研究进展

基因水平转移(horizontal gene transfer,HGT)是转基因植物环境风险评估的重要内容之一。转基因植物重组DNA通过根系分泌、花粉、残体等方式向土壤环境释放。已有研究表明,外源重组DNA很可能被土壤微生物通过同源重组的方式整合到基因组中,直接或间接地造成微生物群落结构和功能的改变,这将造成土壤生态环境系统的改变。本文论述了转基因植物重组DNA在土壤环境中的持留、水平转移及其影响因素和相关检测方法,讨论了转基因植物重组DNA在土壤环境中持留和水平转移的研究重点,并对其研究方法进行比较分析,提出今后的重点研究方向和方法,以期为转基因植物风险评估和安全管理提供技术支撑。     

发根土壤杆菌及其应用研究进展

简要介绍了发根土壤杆菌的致病机理及其影响因素 ,重点综述了发根土壤杆菌在用于获得转基因植物、生产次生代谢产物和促使植物生根等方面的应用。     

生物基因技术修复石油污染土壤研究进展

植物修复油污土壤是控制环境污染的有效途径,但在实际应用中存在着植物生物量较小、生长缓慢等不足。将具有修复功能的外源基因引入植物中,使转基因植物的生物修复功能大大增强,为解决土壤石油污染问题提供了有效手段。文章系统论述了转基因植物对石油污染土壤中有机污染物,尤其是对持久性有机污染物（POPs）的吸收、转化和降解作用以及近年来所取得的突破性进展,并指出了利用生物基因修复技术进行土壤石油污染研究的发展趋势。     

转基因植物环境安全性研究进展

随着转基因植物在全球范围内的广泛种植,其环境安全性问题也日益受到重视。对转基因植物的环境安全性问题进行了综述,主要从转基因植物的杂草化、基因漂移、对非靶标和靶标生物的影响等方面阐述了转基因植物对生态环境的影响。     

转基因作物对土壤生态系统的影响

综述了转基因作物对土壤生态系统影响的研究进展,包括转基因作物中的外源基因在土壤中的活性,转基因作物对土壤微生物区系有土壤酶活性的影响以及转基因作物对土壤动物区系的影响,转基因作物对土壤生态系统的影响与导入的外源基因特性和土壤类型相关,转基因产物进入土壤后引起的土壤生物变化的程度依赖于许多因素,最重要的决定因素是生态系统的复杂性和稳定性,评价不同转基因作物对土壤生态系统的影响具有重要的生态学意义,急需发展和完善以分子生物学为主的风险评价方法。     

转基因植物的生态风险

转基因植物已在很多国家大规模商业化种植,并且取得了显著的经济效益。同时有关转基因植物潜在的生态风险已引起广泛的关注。本文从转基因植物人侵危害、对非靶标有益生物直接和间接的影响、害虫对抗虫转基因植物产生抗性、抗病毒转基因植物带来的潜在风险等方面论述了转基因植物可能潜在的生态安全性问题。     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza decreases cadmium phytoextraction by transgenic tobacco with inserted metallothionein

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) on the phytoextraction efficiency of transgenic tobacco with increased ability to tolerate and accumulate cadmium (Cd) was tested in a pot experiment. The tobacco plants bearing the yeast metallothionein CUP1 combined with a polyhistidine cluster were compared to non-transgenic tobacco of the same variety at four Cd concentrations in soil, non-inoculated or inoculated with two isolates of the AM fungus Glomus intraradices. Mycorrhizal inoculation improved the growth of both the transgenic and non-transgenic tobacco and decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and root to shoot translocation. Differences were found between the two AM fungal isolates: one isolate supported more efficient phosphorus uptake and plant growth in the soil without Cd addition, while the other isolate alleviated the inhibitory effect of cadmium on plant growth. The resulting effect of inoculation on Cd accumulation was dependent on Cd level in soil and differed between the more Cd tolerant transgenic plants and the less tolerant non-transgenic plants. Mycorrhiza mostly decreased the phytoextraction efficiency of transgenic plants while increased that of non-transgenic plants at Cd levels in soil inhibitory to tobacco growth. Mechanisms of the observed effects of inoculation on growth and Cd uptake are discussed as well as the possible implications of the results for the exploitation of AM in phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.     

Soil-dependent variability of leaf iron accumulation in transgenic tobacco overexpressing ferritin

Ferritin overexpression in transgenic plants has been recently reported to increase leaf and seed iron content. We investigated the influence of various soil conditions on this increase in leaf iron content. One control transgenic tobacco and two transgenic tobaccos overexpressing ferritin in the plastids or in the cytoplasm, respectively, were grown on five different soils, two of them being amended with sewage sludge. Although a significant increase in leaf iron concentration was measured in transgenics overexpressing ferritin grown on three out of five soils, this increase was not a general rule. On some soils, leaf iron concentration of control plants was as high as in transgenics grown on other soils. In addition, an increased phosphorus concentration in the two sewage sludge amended soils correlated with a high leaf iron concentration in control plants, similar to the one measured in ferritin transformed plants. Indeed, growing plants in vitro with various increasing phosphate concentrations revealed a direct P involvement in iron loading of control plants, at a similar level as overexpressing ferritin plants. Also, with one of the soil tested, not only iron but also manganese, zinc and cadmium, and to a much lesser extent copper, nickel and lead were found more abundantly in ferritin transformed plants than in control plants. These data indicate that the iron fortification of leaves, based on ferritin overexpression, could be limited in its biotechnological application because of its high soil dependence.     

Polymer and sprinkler droplet energy effects on sugar beet emergence, soil penetration resistance, and aggregate stability

The rapid development of agricultural biotechnology and release of new transgenic plants for agriculture has provided many economic benefits, but has also raised concern over the potential impact of transgenic plants on the environment. Considerable research has now been conducted on the effects of transgenic plants on soil microorganisms. These effects include unintentional changes in the chemical compositions of root exudates, and the direct effects of transgenic proteins on nontarget species of soil microorganisms. Most studies to date suggest that transgenic plants that have been released cause minor changes in microbial community structures that are often transient in duration. However, due to our limited knowledge of the linkage between microbial community structure and function, more work needs to be done on a case-by-case basis to further evaluate the effects of transgenic plants on soil microorganisms and soil ecosystem functions. This review summarizes the results of a variety of experiments that have been conducted to specifically test the effects of transgenic plants on soil microorganisms, and particularly examines the types of methods that are being used to study microbial interactions with transgenic plants.     

转基因植物检测技术的研究进展

现代植物基因工程使转基因植物及其产品越来越多地进入人们的生活,转基因植物安全性在世界范围内引起了广泛关注,对转基因植物检测技术的需求也越来越紧迫。就转基因植物检测技术的研究进展进行综述,重点介绍以基因和蛋白为目标的检测技术,包括PCR、ELISA和基因芯片技术的最新进展,并对不同方法的优缺点进行对比。此外,提出对特定代谢产物的检测是转基因植物检测的重要组成部分,是以后检测技术的发展趋势之一。最后,以差异蛋白为检测目标,结合研究工作提出基于双向电泳技术的转基因植物检测方法及其产品溯源方案。     

RNAi-mediated disruption of squalene synthase improves drought tolerance and yield in rice

About one-third of the world's rice area is in rain-fed lowlands and most are prone to water shortage. The identification of genes imparting tolerance to drought in the model cereal plant, rice, is an attractive strategy to engineer improved drought tolerance not only rice but other cereals as well. It is demonstrated that RNAi-mediated disruption of a rice farnesyltransferase/squalene synthase (SQS) by maize squalene synthase improves drought tolerance at both the vegetative and reproductive stages. Twenty-day-old seedlings of wild type (Nipponbare) and seven independent events of transgenic RNAi lines showed no difference in morphology. When subjected to water stress for a period of 32 d under growth chamber conditions, transgenic positives showed delayed wilting, conserved more soil water, and improved recovery. When five independent events along with wild-type plants were subjected to drought at the reproductive stage under greenhouse conditions, the transgenic plants lost water more slowly compared with the wild type, through reduced stomatal conductance and the retention of high leaf relative water content (RWC). After 28 d of slow progressive soil drying, transgenic plants recovered better and flowered earlier than wild-type plants. The yield of water-stressed transgenic positive plants ranged from 14-39% higher than wild-type plants. When grown in plates with Yoshida's nutrient solution with 1.2% agar, transgenic positives from three independent events showed increased root length and an enhanced number of lateral roots. The RNAi-mediated inactivation produced reduced stomatal conductance and subsequent drought tolerance.     

Assessing the risks of transgene escape through time and crop-wild hybrid persistence

Transgenes introduced into crops can escape in time, as well as space, via the seed bank. For annual plants, especially ruderals, seed bank behaviour may be the most important factor determining population persistence. Crop seeds may exhibit some dormancy and germination cueing in the soil but are expected to be less able to persist than their wild relatives, which often have considerable dormancy and longevity, as well as effective germination cueing responses. Crop-wild hybrids may have seed bank characteristics more suited to persistence, and maternal effects may favour persistence of hybrids having wild plants for their female parent. Escape of transgenes via crop-wild hybrids presents unique concerns not present for crops. Hybrids can undergo natural selection and may back-cross with wild plants. We suggest methods that can be used in conjunction with evaluation of the relative fitness of crop-wild hybrids that will determine the likelihood of back-crossing. Accurate assessment of escape in time and transgene persistence via crop-wild hybrids requires proper plant materials. We emphasize the use of null segregants as controls for transgenic crops and for generating crop-wild hybrid controls for transgenic hybrids. Since good empirical and theoretical understanding of how individual genes influence the fate of plants in different environments is lacking, evaluation of escape in time and the persistence of transgenes via crop-wild hybrids should be on a case-by-case basis.     

Co-expression of Pennisetum glaucum vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter and Arabidopsis H⁺-pyrophosphatase enhances salt tolerance in transgenic tomato

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting plant productivity. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), an important and widespread crop in the world, is sensitive to moderate levels of salt in the soil. To generate tomato plants that can adapt to saline soil, AVP1, a vacuolar H(+)-pyrophosphatase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, and PgNHX1, a vacuolar Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene from Pennisetum glaucum, were co-expressed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A sample of transformants was self-pollinated, and progeny were evaluated for salt tolerance in vitro and in vivo. It is reported here that co-expression of AVP1 and PgNHX1 confers enhanced salt tolerance to the transformed tomato compared with the AVP1 and PgNHX1 single gene transgenic plants and the wild-type. These transgenic plants grew well in the presence of 200 mM NaCl while wild-type plants exhibited chlorosis and died within 3 weeks. The transgenic line co-expressing AVP1 and PgNHX1 retained more chlorophyll and accumulated 1.4 times more proline as a response to stress than single gene transformants. Moreover, these transgenic plants accumulated a 1.5 times higher Na(+) content in their leaf tissue than the single gene transformants. The toxic effect of Na(+) accumulation in the cytosol is reduced by its sequestration into the vacuole. The physiological analysis of the transgenic lines clearly demonstrates that co-expression of AVP1 and PgNHX1 improved the osmoregulatory capacity of double transgenic lines by enhanced sequestration of ions into the vacuole by increasing the availability of protons and thus alleviating the toxic effect of Na(+).     

Bacterial communities associated with the rhizosphere of transgenic Bt 176 maize (Zea mays) and its non transgenic counterpart

The effect of transgenic Bt 176 maize on the rhizosphere bacterial community has been studied with a polyphasic approach by comparing the rhizosphere of Bt maize cultivated in greenhouse with that of its non transgenic counterpart grown in the same conditions. In the two plants the bacterial counts of the copiotrophic, oligotrophic and sporeforming bacteria, and the community level catabolic profiling, showed no significant differences; differences between the rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial communities were evidenced. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) showed differences also in the rhizosphere communities at different plant ages, as well as between the two plant types. ARISA fingerprinting patterns of soil bacterial communities exposed to root growth solutions, collected from transgenic and non transgenic plants grown in hydroponic conditions, were grouped separately by principal component analysis suggesting that root exudates could determine the selection of different bacterial communities.     

The photosynthetic response of tobacco plants overexpressing ice plant aquaporin McMIPB to a soil water deficit and high vapor pressure deficit

We investigated the photosynthetic capacity and plant growth of tobacco plants overexpressing ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) aquaporin McMIPB under (1) a well-watered growth condition, (2) a well-watered and temporal higher vapor pressure deficit (VPD) condition, and (3) a soil water deficit growth condition to investigate the effect of McMIPB on photosynthetic responses under moderate soil and atmospheric humidity and water deficit conditions. Transgenic plants showed a significantly higher photosynthesis rate (by 48 %), higher mesophyll conductance (by 52 %), and enhanced growth under the well-watered growth condition than those of control plants. Decreases in the photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance from ambient to higher VPD were slightly higher in transgenic plants than those in control plants. When plants were grown under the soil water deficit condition, decreases in the photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance were less significant in transgenic plants than those in control plants. McMIPB is likely to work as a CO₂ transporter, as well as control the regulation of stomata to water deficits.