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Genetic
Transformation of Woody Ornamentals in TSU, CARP
Suping
Zhou and Roger J. Sauve
Cooperative
Agricultural Research Program
Seminar Series
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
October 23, 2002
In the Plant
Biotechnology Laboratory at Tennessee State University, we have
completed the following two projects: “Genetic
Transformation of Flowering Cherry for Disease Resistance”
and “Genetic
Transformation of Elm
Trees”.
Japanese flowering cherry and elms are important species
for residential, recreational and commercial landscapes. However,
diseases that affect these plants are limiting their use. These two
projects were carried out to introduce foreign genes into these plants
using genetic engineering methods. The objective of the research was to
improve disease resistance of these ornamentals.
In nature,
antimicrobial peptides play important roles in protecting plants and
animals against a broad spectrum of pathogens. These peptides operate as
a first line of defense against microbial infections. We have obtained
two antimicrobial peptide genes: ESF39A (from State University of New
York) and D4E1 gene (from DEMEGEN). These genes have high antimicrobial
activities and have exhibited enhanced resistance in transgenic poplar
and tobacco plants against many fungal and bacterial diseases.
Cotyledons and embryogenic calli of Japanese flowering
cherry were transformed with these two antimicrobial peptide genes using
Agrobacterium-mediation and Biolistics Bombardment. Stable incorporation
of these foreign genes in the transgenic cherries and elms was confirmed
using GUS and PCR analysis.
We have established an efficient method for the
transformation of Chinese elms using Biolistics Bombardment. Stable
incorporation and expression of foreign genes were confirmed by GUS
assay and PCR analysis.
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