Transformation of indica and japonica rices at IRRI using marker and agronomically-important genes

Zapata, F.J.; Abrigo, E.M.; Oliva, N.P.; Alam, M.F.; Wu, C.Y.; Zhang, S.; Bennett, J.; Okita, T. . Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biochemistry Div.

Transformation of indica and japonica rices at IRRI using marker and agronomically-important genes

1993

The novel technique of direct gene transfer which allows the incorporation and expression of foreign genes into crops such as rice, a method not possible through conventional breeding, is another alternative for crop improvement. PEG-mediated cotransformation of protoplasts of several japonica and indica cultivars was performed using gene constructs containing either the beta-glucoronidase gene (pCAL1GC) and hygromycin-resistance gene (pTRA132), on the soybean trypsin inhibitor gene (pSBTI) and the hygromycin-resistance gene. More than 300 putative transformants were regenerated from six varieties. Histological and molecular analysis was performed either at the callus stage or whole plant level. Plants of IR58 stained with X-glue solution showed positive GUS reaction. On the other hand, southern analysis of hygromycin B of 81 plants of the rice variety Zhonghua No. 10 plants set seeds. Integration of selectable markers into the plants demonstrate the possibility of introducing agronomically-important genes from sources other than rice. The agronomically-important gene from soybean, soybean trypsin inhibitor, which confers resistance to yellow stemborers has also been incorporated into the genome of the cultivar Zhonghua No. 6. Twenty of the 24 Zhonghua No. 6 plants analyzed for the presence of the SBTI gene showed positive signal in both total and digested DNA by Southern blot analysis demonstrating the enormous possibilities of incorporating foreign genes of agronomic importance into rice

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