Developing transgenic maize(Zea mays L.) with insect resistance and glyphosate tolerance by fusion gene transformation

Using linker peptide LP4/2A for multiple gene transformation is considered to be an effective method to stack or pyramid several traits in plants. Bacillus thuringiensis（Bt） cry gene and epsps（5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase） gene are two important genes for culturing pest-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant crops. We used linker peptide LP4/2A to connect the Bt cry1 Ah gene with the 2m G2-epsps gene and combined the wide-used man A gene as a selective marker to construct one coordinated expression vector called p2 EPUHLAGN. The expression vector was transferred into maize by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and 60 plants were obtained, 40% of which were positive transformants. Molecular detection demonstrated that the two genes in the fusion vector were expressed simultaneously and spliced correctly in translation processing; meanwhile bioassay detection proved the transgenic maize had preferable pest resistance and glyphosate tolerance. Therefore, linker peptide LP4/2A provided a simple and reliable strategy for producing gene stacking in maize and the result showed that the fusion gene transformation system of LP4/2A was feasible in monocot plants.

In maize,co-expression of GAT and GR79-EPSPS provides high glyphosate resistance,along with low glyphosate residues

Herbicide tolerance has been the dominant trait introduced during the global commercialization of genetically modified(GM)crops.Herbicide-tolerant crops,especially glyphosate-resistant crops,offer great advantages for weed management;however,despite these benefits,glyphosate-resistant maize(Zea mays L.)has not yet been commercially deployed in China.To develop a new bio-breeding resource for glyphosate-resistant maize,we introduced a codon-optimized glyphosate N-acetyltransferase gene,gat,and the enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene,gr79-epsps,into the maize variety B104.We selected a genetically stable high glyphosate resistance(GR)transgenic event,designated GG2,from the transgenic maize population through screening with high doses of glyphosate.A molecular analysis demonstrated that single copy of gat and gr79-epsps were integrated into the maize genome,and these two genes were stably transcribed and translated.Field trials showed that the transgenic event GG2 could tolerate 9000 g acid equivalent(a.e.)glyphosate per ha with no effect on phenotype or yield.A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC–MS)analysis revealed that,shortly after glyphosate application,the glyphosate(PMG)and aminomethylphosphonic acid(AMPA)residues in GG2 leaves decreased by more than 90%compared to their levels in HGK60 transgenic plants,which only harbored the epsps gene.Additionally,PMG and its metabolic residues(AMPA and N-acetyl-PMG)were not detected in the silage or seeds of GG2,even when far more than the recommended agricultural dose of glyphosate was applied.The co-expression of gat and gr79-epsps,therefore,confers GG2 with high GR and a low risk of herbicide residue accumulation,making this germplasm a valuable GR event in herbicide-tolerant maize breeding.

Rapid and convenient transformation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) using in planta shoot apex via glyphosate selection

Cotton plants are recalcitrant with regards to transformation and induced regeneration.In the present study,5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate（EPSPS）,a glyphosate resistant gene from the bacterium Agrobacterium sp.strain CP4,was introduced into an elite Bt transgenic cotton cultivar with a modified technique involving in planta Agrobacteriummediated transformation of shoot apex.Primary transformants were initially screened using a 0.26%glyphosate spray and subsequently by PCR analysis.Five out of 4 000 transformants from T_1 seeds were obtained resulting in an in planta transformation rate of 0.125%.Four homozygous lines were produced by continuous self-fertilization and both PCR-based selection and glyphosate resistance.Transgene insertion was analyzed by Southern blot analysis.Gene transcription and protein expression levels in the transgenic cotton lines were further investigated by RT-PCR,Western blot,and ELISA methods.Transgenic T_3 plants were resistant to as much as 0.4% of glyphosate treatments in field trials.Our results indicate that the cotton shoot apex transformation technique which is both tissue-culture and genotype-independent would enable the exploitation of transgene technology in different cotton cultivars.Since this method does not require sterile conditions,the use of specialized growth media or the application of plant hormones,it can be conducted under the greenhouse condition.

Comparison of Two Real-time PCR Technigues for Quantification of GMO Contents in Highly Processed Products of Soybean

The RR soybean was quantitatively detected by ABI Prism 7300 sequence detector with PCR primers and fluorescence probes were designed according to the sequences of endogenous Lectin gene and exogenous CP4-EPSPS gene, and the PCR systems were based on SYBR Green I and TaqMan. The standard curve of ACt between CP4-EPSPS gene and Lectin gene of the RR soybean in standard materials was generated and a linear regression equation was obtained. Quantification methods were optimized through two different real-time PCR chemistries, i.e. SYBR Green I and TaqMan, and the RR soybean contents were quantified in five standard samples and seven highly processed products by the two assays. Both methods are proved to be specific, highly sensitive and reliable for both identification and quantification of soybean DNA. The results indicate that the two optimized PCR system can be used for the practical quantitative detection of RR soybean in highly processed products.