Comparison of genetic transformation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus alba</Emphasis> L. via different regeneration systems

Three different regeneration systems, viz. direct regeneration of adventitious shoot buds from explant, regeneration through callus cultures and somatic embryos were compared to see their effect on transfer of neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene (gus) to Morus alba clone M5, through Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Pre-conditioning and co-cultivation durations had a marked effect on transformation frequency. The highest transformation frequency of 18.6% was obtained using direct induction of adventitious shoot buds. Expression and presence of transgene were assayed histochemically and through polymerase chain reaction. Southern analysis of GUS and PCR positive transformants confirmed stable integration of transgenes with two to four copy numbers. The selected transformants showed normal phenotype under in vitro and field conditions.     

Seasonal Migration of Apolygus spinolae (Hemiptera: Miridae) between Grapevines and Herbaceous Plants

This study was conducted to verify the seasonal migration of Apolygus spinolae (Meyer-Dür) between grapevines and herbaceous plants. Overwintering eggs were hidden in the hair layer under grapevine bud scales. A. spinolae adults were captured on sticky traps in the grapevine yard from late spring to early summer, dwindled through the summer, and captured again in late fall. However, adults were observed from early summer in herbaceous plant fields. A. spinolae adults were abundant during the summer of July and August in the herbaceous field, and thereafter its density decreased through fall. A few or no A. spinolae was found on mesh-netted grapevines after the installation year of the mesh-net, which indicated that A. spinolae adults migrating to lay overwintering eggs during the autumn could not land at the grapevines because of the mesh-net. Damaged shoots by A. spinolae were concentrated near the edge of grapevine yards bordering the herbaceous plants. This distribution pattern of shoot damage was believed to be related to an oviposition behavior of A spinolae, reflecting that adults migrating from herbaceous plants lay eggs more frequently in grapevines adjacent to the summer host plants. Seasonal occurrence of A. spinolae in grapevine yards was suggested as follows: A. spinolae overwinter as eggs in dormant buds on grapevines and hatch in the spring. Nymphs feed on grapevines then develop to adults (spring population), and migrate to herbaceous plants. A. spimolae spends the summer on the herbaceous hosts (summer population). Then, adults migrate back to grapevines in late autumn and lay overwintering eggs.     

Development of a New Method for Genetic Transformation of the Green Alga Chlorella ellipsoidea

Chlorella ellipsoidea is a single-celled eukaryotic green microalgae with high nutritional value. Its value may be further increased if a simple, reliable and cost-effective transformation method for C. ellipsoidea can be developed. In this paper, we describe a novel transformation method for C. ellipsoidea . This system is based on treatment of C. ellipsoidea cells with cellulolytic enzymes to weaken their cell walls, making them become competent to take up foreign DNA. To demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of this method, we treated C. ellipsoidea cells with a cell wall-degrading enzyme, cellulase, followed by transformation with plasmid pSP-Ubi-GUS harbouring both the zeocin resistance gene and the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene that serve as selective makers for transformation. Transformants were readily obtained on zeocin selection medium, reaching transformation efficiency of 2.25 × 10³ transformants/μg of plasmid DNA. PCR analysis has also demonstrated the presence of the GUS reporter gene in the zeocin-resistant transformants. Histochemical assays further showed the expression of the GUS activity in both primary transformants and transformants after long-term growth (10 months) with antibiotic selection on and off. Availability of a simple and efficient transformation system for C. ellipsoidea will accelerate the exploration of this microalga for a broader range of biotechnological applications, including its use as a biologic factory for the production of high-value human therapeutic proteins.     

Genetic Transformation and Somatic Embryogenesis in Lathyrus sativus

Direct somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation has been achieved in Lathyrus sativus. The genetic transformation was achieved by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and biolistic methods of gene transfer. Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from immature leaflets and nodal segments by using 2,4-0 in the induction medium. Somatic embryos formed germinated on growth regulator-free medium. The transgenic nature of the transformants was confirmed by GUS expression assay. The transgenic shoots/plantlets were obtained only from tissue transformed with biolistic method of gene transfer.     

柑桔基因转化新方法的研究

尽管应用基因转化进行果树品种改良已日益引起重视,但是在受体的应用和转化方法上还存在着诸多困难。一方面,大多数果树尚不能从细胞或原生质体再生成完整植株,即使少数已可以再生的果树树种,也并非众多品种都能再生成功,而是存在着明显的基因型差异性。同时,还有再生植株童期过长的问题。另一方面,目前在植物基因转化中常用的两种方法即DNA直接吸入法和农杆菌介导的载体法,若以细胞或原生质体为受体,不仅存在再生困难的问题,而且再生过程费时长;若以叶盘、愈伤组织或珠心组织等为受体,既需要在转化后除去农杆菌,又需要排除转化与非转化组织的嵌合性。这些因素都大大地限制了基因转化在果树中的应用。因此,根据多年生果树的生长特点,建立一种适用的基因转化技术已成当务之急。本文采用农杆菌介导的附体腋芽转化-离体扩繁鉴定的方法,成功地将GUS基因转入沙田柚。结果证明这是一种简单、快速、高效的基因转化方法。     

DNA addition or deletion is associated with a major karyotype polymorphism in the fungal phytopathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

The bacterial GUS (β-glucuronidase) gene has been used as a reporter gene in plants and bacteria and was recently expressed in filamentous fungi. Here, we report the application of GUS for the establishment of transient and stable gene expression systems in the phytopathogenic fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus. The utility of the transient expression system is demonstrated in applications involving promoter analysis and in tests of various parameters of a transformation system, for comparing the rates of stable and transient transformation events using GUS as sole screening marker and for comparing different transformation systems using either GUS or a dominant selection marker. For these purposes two plasmids were constructed harbouring the GUS gene and the hph gene of Escherichia coli which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin B (HygB), ligated either to the P1 or GPD1 (glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase) promoter of C. heterostrophus. In transient expression studies the first appearance of GUS activity was observed within 2 h after transformation and maximal values were obtained after 7 or 10 h, depending on the promoter fused to the GUS gene. At peak activity, the GPD1 promoter was revealed to be five fold stronger than the P1 promoter. The same difference in promoter strenght was observed when the vectors were stably integrated in the fungal genome. Using the GUS gene as a colour selection marker in plate assays, it was possible to detect transformants and monitor the process of transient gene expression visually. Blue transformants obtained by screening for the GUS phenotype were mitotically unstable. Transformants obtained by selecting for HygB resistance were mitotically stable and expressed the β-glucuronidase gene constitutively. GUS activity in fungal colonies was detected fluorometrically in a nondestructive plate assay. The pathogenicity of these strains was unaltered compared with wild type. The GUS phenotype allowed selective blue staining of the colonizing mycelia on maize leaves.     

Alterations in the pattern of peroxidase isoenzymes and transient increases in its activity and in H2O2 levels take place during the dormancy cycle of grapevine buds: the effect of hydrogen cyanamide

Polymorphism of peroxidase (Px) and changes in its activity and in H₂O₂ content were studied in buds of grapevine during dormancy. Three isoforms of Px were detected in bud-extracts, two basic and one acidic, however, the pattern of Px isoenzyme changed with the progress of dormancy. Thus, basic Px isoenzymes disappeared from extracts previous to the onset of bud-break, while acidic isoenzymes remained relatively unaltered throughout the whole dormancy period. Furthermore, transient increases in the activity of Px and in the content of H₂O₂ occurred previous to endodormancy release, when buds were fully dormant. Hydrogen cyanamide (H₂CN₂), a potent bud breaking agent in grapevines advanced as expected bud-break, but also advanced the occurrence of Px and H₂O₂ peaks and the changes in Px isoenzymes pattern. The results suggests that H₂O₂ could function as a signalling molecule inducing endodormancy release, and changes in Px polymorphism could be a useful marker to study endo/ecodormancy phase transition in buds of grapevines.     

The dormancy-breaking stimuli “chilling,hypoxia and cyanamide exposure” up-regulate the expression of α-amylase genes in grapevine buds

It has been suggested that respiratory stress is involved in the mechanism underlying the dormancy-breaking effect of hydrogen cyanamide (H₂CN₂) and sodium azide in grapevine buds; indeed, reductions in oxygen levels (hypoxia) and inhibitors of respiration promote bud-break in grapevines. In this study, we showed that, hypoxia increased starch hydrolysis soluble sugar consumption and up-regulated the expression of α-amylase genes (Vvα-AMYs) in grapevine buds, suggesting that these biochemical changes induced by hypoxia, may play a relevant role in the release of buds from endodormancy (ED). Three of the four Vvα-AMY genes that are expressed in grapevine buds were up-regulated by hypoxia and a correlation between changes in sugar content and level of Vvα-AMY gene expression during the hypoxia treatment was found, suggesting that soluble sugars mediate the effect of hypoxia on Vvα-AMY gene expression. Exogenous applications of soluble sugars and sugar analogs confirmed this finding and revealed that osmotic stress induces the expression of Vvα-AMY1 and Vvα-AMY3 and that soluble sugars induces Vvα-AMY2 and Vvα-AMY4 gene expression. Interestingly, the plant hormone gibberellic acid (GA₃) induced the expression of Vvα-AMY3 and Vvα-AMY4 genes, while dormancy breaking stimuli, chilling and cyanamide exposure, mainly induced the expression of Vvα-AMY1 and Vvα-AMY2 genes, suggesting that these two α-amylase genes might be involved in the release of grapevine buds from the ED.     

Is GABA-shunt functional in endodormant grapevine buds under respiratory stress?

It has been suggested that a respiratory stress is part of the mechanism through which the dormancy-breaking compounds, hydrogen cyanamide (HC) and sodium azide, induce the release of buds from the endodormancy (ED) in grapevines. The accumulation of metabolites like succinate, alanine (Ala) and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), together with the activation of the GABA-shunt pathway, is a general feature of plants in response to oxygen deprivation and to respiratory stress. Unexpectedly, in a previous study, we found that GABA applied exogenously to grapevine buds, down-regulated the expression of most genes encoding for antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that its accumulation under respiratory stress conditions could be deleterious for the bud. In order to analyze whether GABA accumulates under respiratory stress conditions in grapevine buds, we analysed in this study, the effect of hypoxia, the respiration inhibitor KCN and the dormancy breaker compound HC, on the level of GABA, and on the expression levels of the GABA-shunt genes (VvGAD, VvGABA-T, VvSSADH). Additionally, genes from the Ala fermentative pathway (VvAlaAT, VvAspAT) were also analysed. The results revealed that although the three treatments mentioned above, up-regulated the expression of VvGAD1, the content of GABA remained constant, while Ala content increased. The lack of GABA accumulation under respiratory stress is an important physiological fact in grapevine buds, since it avoids the down-regulation of antioxidant genes, and promotes the incorporation of succinate into the TCA cycle, a fact that would be important in the release of buds from the ED.     

Refining the biological factors affecting virulence of Botryosphaeriaceae on grapevines

Botryosphaeriaceae isolates of six species were assessed for their potential to infect grapevine tissues other than their tissues of isolation, primarily to determine sources of inocula that could contribute to bunch rot. Pathogenicity tests were conducted in vitro on berries and wood and in vivo on dormant buds of cultivars Chardonnay and Shiraz in glasshouse and field experiments. Tissue specificity and variation in virulence for different isolates was assessed. All isolates were able to infect and cause symptoms on detached 1‐year‐old canes and mature berries. Virulence was not affected by origin tissue and varied between isolates and within species. Inoculation of dormant buds did not affect bud burst or further development of shoots and fruit, however, a small number of Botryosphaeriaceae were reisolated from bunches at later growth stages. We conclude that Botryosphaeriaceae species are important pathogens of both the vegetative tissues and wood of grapevines. Grapevine wood infected with Botryosphaeriaceae could act as a source of inoculum for reproductive and vegetative tissue. Equally, the vegetative and reproductive tissues can also act as inoculum sources for wood infection. Therefore, all sources of inocula should be taken into consideration when developing management strategies for Botryosphaeria bunch rot and Botryosphaeria canker diseases.     

The Escherichia coli C homoprotocatechuate degradative operon: hpc gene order,direction of transcription and control of expression

The processing of DNA molecules during transformation was characterized in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Linear and circular forms of nonreplicating transformation vectors supported similar rates of stable transformation. Remarkably, digestion of plasmids within the selectable marker genes neomycin phosphotransferase (npt) or hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) had little effect on the recovery of drug-resistant transformants, and the cleaved sites were shown to be reconstituted in the transformants. An assay for the transient expression of β-glucuronidase (GUS) in protoplasts treated with partial or disrupted GUS genes demonstrated that active genes could be reconstituted through intramolecular and/or intermolecular ligation between compatible ends, while incompatible ends were inefficiently joined. Stable transformation studies also demonstrated that complementing portions of incomplete npt or hpt genes joined through homologous recombination. Based on the indication of efficient ligation between DNA molecules during transformation, an efficient procedure for cotransformation was developed. The frequency of cotransformation between vectors expressing selected genes (npt or hpt) and nonselected sequences (GUS, β-galactosidase, or streptomycin phosphotransferase) approached unity when the plasmids were linearized with the same restriction enzyme before transformation. In contrast, cotransformation between circular plasmids or those cut with different enzymes occurred infrequently (10%). Hybridization analysis of DNA from cotransformants demonstrated that linearized plasmids became colocalized within genomic DNA, while circular plasmids typically inserted at unliked sites.     

Strain specific Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Bacopa monnieri

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is the most preferred strategy utilized for plant genetic transformation. The present study was carried out to analyze the influence of three different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on genetic transformation of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell. In the present study, B. monnieri was genetically transformed with three different strains of A. tumefaciens viz. LBA4404, EHA105 and GV3101 harbouring expression vector pCAMBIA2301 containing β-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene. The putative transformants were analyzed by PCR method using transgene specific primers. Expression and presence of GUS reporter protein were analyzed by histochemical staining assay and quantitative analysis of GUS enzyme was done using fluorometric assay. No statistically significant difference in transformation efficiency was found for all the three strains. Interestingly, Gus expression was variable with LBA4404 plants showing highest GUS activity.     

葡萄基因工程研究进展

植物基因工程技术为培育优良葡萄品种开辟了一条全新而有效的途径。葡萄基因转化受体系统的建立主要包括器官发生途径和胚状体发生途径,建立良好的受体系统是葡萄基因转化成功的关键,遗传转化途径主要有根癌农杆菌介导的遗传转化和基因枪法。概述了迄今国内外葡萄基因工程的研究进展,着重对葡萄基因转化受体系统的建立、转化的方法、转化植株的筛选和检测、影响葡萄基因转化的主要因素等进行了综述,并展望了葡萄基因工程的发展前景。     

A simple method for in planta tomato transformation by inoculating floral buds with a sticky Agrobacterium tumefaciens suspension

Tomato transformation is conventionally performed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-infected cotyledons. Here, we propose a simple procedure for tomato transformation, by which A. tumefaciens cells were smeared onto floral buds of a tomato plant using a paintbrush. Sufficient numbers of fruits were obtained from them, although the smearing of an excess number of A. tumefaciens cells led to an adverse effect on the plant growth. Progeny plants were screened by growth on a kanamycin-containing selection medium plate. The nptII gene was detected in 10 plants among 1,599 progenies. These transformants were derived from fruits other than those obtained from the smeared buds. This suggested that A. tumefaciens cells moved to the buds located near the smeared buds and caused the transformation event. Our findings suggest that this procedure can be used for the introduction of a foreign gene into plant cells.     

Transgenic grapevine plants expressing a rice chitinase with enhanced resistance to fungal pathogens

 The rice chitinase gene (RCC2), classified as class I chitinase, was introduced into the somatic embryos of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Neo Muscut) by Agrobacterium infection. After co-cultivation with Agrobacterium, somatic embryos were transferred onto Murashige and Skoog hormone-free medium supplemented with 50 mg/l kanamycin. Transformed secondary or tertiary embryos were selected, and then more than 20 transgenic plantlets were recovered. Two transformants showed enhanced resistance against powdery mildew caused by Uncinula necator. Few disease symptoms were observed on leaves of these transformants compared with those of the non-transformant, although browning and necrotic symptoms, which seemed to constitute a hypersensitive reaction, were observed. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that conidial germination, mycelial growth and conidial formation were suppressed on the leaf surface of the transformant. The transgenic grapevines obtained also exhibited slight resistance against Elisinoe ampelina inducing anthracnose, resulting in a reduction in disease lesions. The relationship between the expression of the foreign chitinase gene and the disease resistance is discussed. Received: 5 April 1999 / Revision received: 13 September 1999 / Accepted: 6 October 1999     

Transient expression of artificial microRNAs targeting Grapevine fanleaf virus and evidence for RNA silencing in grapevine somatic embryos

Grapevines are affected worldwide by viruses that compromise fruit yield and quality. Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) causes fanleaf degeneration disease, a major threat to grapevine production. Transgenic approaches exploiting the RNA silencing machinery have proven suitable for engineering viral resistance in several crop species. However, the artificial microRNA (amiRNA)-based strategy has not yet been reported in grapevine. We developed two amiRNA precursors (pre-amiRNAs) targeting the coat protein (CP) gene of GFLV and characterised their functionality in grapevine somatic embryos. To create these pre-amiRNAs, natural pre-miR319a of Arabidopsis thaliana was modified by overlapping PCR in order to replace miR319a with two amiRNAs targeting different regions of the CP gene: amiR^CP-1 or amiR^CP-2. Transient expression of these two pre-amiRNA constructs was tested in grapevine somatic embryos after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Expression of amiR^CP-1 and amiR^CP-2 was detected in plant tissues by an endpoint stem-loop RT-PCR as early as 1?day after a 48-h co-cultivation, indicating active processing of pre-amiRNAs by the plant machinery. In parallel, GUS-sensor constructs (G^CP-1 and G^CP-2) were obtained by fusing the target sequence of amiR^CP-1 or amiR^CP-2 to the 3?? terminus of the GUS gene. Co-transformation assays with GUS-sensors and the pre-amiRNA constructs provided evidence for in vivo recognition and cleavage of the 21-nt target sequence of GUS-sensors by the corresponding amiRNA. This is the first report of amiRNA ectopic expression in grapevine. The constructs we developed could be useful for engineering GFLV-resistant grapes in the future.     

Agroinfiltration of grapevine leaves for fast transient assays of gene expression and for long-term production of stable transformed cells

Agrobacterium-mediated transient assays for the analysis of gene function are used as alternatives to genetic complementation and stable plant transformation. Although such assays are routinely performed in several plant species, they have not yet been successfully applied to grapevines. We explored genetic background diversity of grapevine cultivars and performed agroinfiltration into in vitro cultured plants. By combining different genotypes and physiological conditions, we developed a protocol for efficient transient transformations of selected grapevine cultivars. Among the four cultivars analyzed, Sugraone and Aleatico exhibited high levels of transient transformation. Transient expression occurred in the majority of cells within the infiltrated tissue several days after agroinfiltration and, in a few cases, it later spread to a larger portion of the leaf. Three laboratory strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens with different virulence levels were used for agroinfiltration assays on grapevine plants. This method promises to be a powerful tool to perform subcellular localization analyses. Grapevine leaf tissues were transformed with fluorescent markers targeted to cytoplasm (free GFP and mRFP1), endoplasmatic reticulum (GFP::HDEL), chloroplast (GAPA1::YFP) and mitochondria (β::GFP). Confocal microscope analyses demonstrated that these subcellular compartments could be easily visualized in grapevine leaf cells. In addition, from leaves of the Sugraone cultivar agroinfiltrated with endoplasmic reticulum-targeted GFP-construct, stable transformed cells were obtained that show the opportunity to convert a transiently transformed leaf tissue into a stably transformed cell line. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Distribution and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in grapevines from production vineyards along the eastern Adriatic coast

The colonisation and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on roots of grapevines were investigated in production vineyards located along a 500-km-long stretch of karst along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. AMF communities on roots of grapevines were analysed using temporal temperature gel electrophoresis and sequencing of the 18S and internal transcribed spacer segments of the rDNA operon. The AMF colonisation of these grapevines roots was consistent along the whole of this east Adriatic karst region, at 64 to 82 % of fine roots. The comparison of the AMF communities on the roots of these grapevines showed that the fungal community associated with grapevine roots seems to be relatively stable, with inter-vineyard variability comparable to intra-vineyard variability. Some of the changes in the fungal communities were attributed to environmental factors (plant-available P) and location of the vineyard, although the latter could also have been influenced by an unmeasured environmental factor. A total of 27 taxa of fungi were identified, including taxa from Glomus group B, based on the sequencing of 18S rDNA. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA yielded 30 different fungal taxa, which comprised eight different Glomeromycota taxa, including Glomus sinuosum and Glomus indicum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of grapevine colonisation by G. indicum.