Stable chloroplast transformation of immature scutella and inflorescences in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2011 Apr;43(4):284-91. doi: 10.1093/abbs/gmr008. Epub 2011 Feb 22.

Abstract

Chloroplast transformation in wheat was achieved by bombardment of scutella from immature embryos and immature inflorescences, respectively. A wheat chloroplast site-specific expression vector, pBAGNRK, was constructed by placing an expression cassette containing neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) and green fluorescent protein (gfp) as selection and reporter genes, respectively, in the intergenic spacer between atpB and rbcL of wheat chloroplast genome. Integration of gfp gene in the plastome was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and Southern blotting using gfp gene as a probe. Expression of GFP protein was examined by western blot. Three positive transformants were obtained and the Southern blot of partial fragment of atpB and rbcL (targeting site) probes verified that one of them was homoplasmic. Stable expression of GFP fluorescence was confirmed by confocal microscopy in the leaf tissues from T(1) progeny seedlings. PCR analysis of gfp gene also confirmed the inheritance of transgene in the T(1) progeny. These results strengthen the feasibility of wheat chloroplast transformation and also give a novel method for the introduction of important agronomic traits in wheat through chloroplast transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Southern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Chloroplasts / genetics*
  • Chloroplasts / metabolism
  • DNA, Chloroplast / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Inflorescence / genetics*
  • Inflorescence / metabolism
  • Kanamycin Kinase / genetics
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Structures / genetics*
  • Plant Structures / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transformation, Genetic
  • Transgenes / genetics
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Chloroplast
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Kanamycin Kinase