Horst Lörz

Gene transfer to cereal cells mediated by protoplast transformation

SummaryDirect gene transfer to cereal cells was achieved by transformation of protoplasts with naked DNA. Protoplasts isolated from cultured cells of Triticum monococcum were incubated in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with circular and linear plasmid DNA. The pBR322-derived plasmid, pBL1103-4, contained a selectable chimeric gene comprising the protein coding region of the Tn5 aminogly-coside phosphotransferase type II gene (NPT II), the nopaline synthase promoter (pNOS) and the polyadenylation signal of the octopine synthase gene. Transformed cells were selected in medium containing kanamycin and identified by detection of aminoglycoside phosphotransferase II activity.

Regeneration of transgenic, microspore-derived, fertile barley

We have developed a system for the biolistic transformation of barley using freshly-isolated microspores as the target tissue. Independent transformation events led, on average, to the recovery of one plant per 1×107 bombarded microspores. Putative transformants have been regenerated using phosphinothricin as a selective agent. R0 plants have been transferred to soil approximately 2 months after bombardment. Integration of the marker genes bar and uidA has been confirmed by Southern analysis. The marker genes are inherited in all progeny plants confirming the expected homozygous nature of the R0 plants.

In Vitro Fertilization with Isolated, Single Gametes Results in Zygotic Embryogenesis and Fertile Maize Plants.

We demonstrate here the possibility of regenerating phenotypically normal, fertile maize plants via in vitro fertilization of isolated, single sperm and egg cells mediated by electrofusion. The technique leads to the highly efficient formation of polar zygotes, globular structures, proembryos, and transition-phase embryos and to the formation of plants from individually cultured fusion products. Regeneration of plants occurs via embryogenesis and occasionally by polyembryony and organogenesis. Flowering plants can be obtained within 100 days of gamete fusion. Regenerated plants were studied by karyological and morphological analyses, and the segregation of kernel color was determined. The hybrid nature of the plants was confirmed.

In vitro fertilization of single, isolated gametes of maize mediated by electrofusion

SummaryElectrofusion-mediated in vitro fertilization of maize using single sperm and egg cells was performed. Sperm cells were released from pollen grains after rupture of the latter by osmotic shock in the fusion medium (0.55 M mannitol). Egg cells were isolated by enzyme treatment (pectinase, pectolyase, hemicellulase, and cellulase) followed by mechanical isolation. The conditions generally used for the electrical fusion of protoplasts of somatic cells were also applied to the protoplasts of gametic cells of maize. Electrofusion was performed with single pairs of gametes under microscopic observation. The mean fusion frequency was 79%. Isolated egg cells of maize showed protoplasmic streaming during 22 days of culture, but they did not divide. However, after fusion of the sperm with the egg cells, these fused cells did develop, with a mean division frequency of 83%, and grew to multicellular structures. Egg cells and fusion products were cultivated with a maize feeder-cell system.

Callus formation from cell culture protoplasts of corn (Zea mays L.)

SummaryRoutine procedures for the isolation of large numbers of protoplasts from an established cell culture of Zea mays and for the induction of sustained divisions leading to secondary cell cultures have been developed. The critical factors seem to be associated with neither specific enzymatic conditions for the isolation nor specific culture conditions for the protoplasts but with the ‘quality’ of the culture used for protoplast isolation.

Transformation and expression of a stilbene synthase gene of Vitis vinifera L. in barley and wheat for increased fungal resistance

Abstract Transformation of barley and wheat via particle bombardment with a gene derived from Vitis vinifera L. (Vst1 gene) resulted in the expression of the foreign phytoalexin, resveratrol, in the transformed plants. Transgenic barley plants were regenerated from microspores and transgenic wheat plants from immature embryos were both selected on Basta. Stable integration of the gene in the genomes of transgenic barley and wheat plants, as well as their progeny, was analysed by Southern-blot analysis. The induction of the stilbene synthase promoter and the transient expression of stilbene synthase-specific mRNA after induction by wounding and infection were proofed in T1 and T2 progeny plants. An enhanced expression of the Vst1 gene under control of the stilbene synthase promoter was observed with enhancer sequences from the cauliflower mosaic virus 35s (CaMV 35s) promoter. The enzyme activity of the stilbene synthase was analysed in T1 progeny plants. The first pathological results indicated an increased resistance of transgenic barley plants to Botrytis cinerea used as a model experimental system.

Cereal microspore culture

The present review will examine some of the recent developments in cereal microspore culture. Experimental procedures as well as applied purposes will be considered. This article will mainly concentrate on the culture of isolated microspores, but due to the close relationship some aspects of anther culture will be discussed also.

Molecular characterisation of two novel maize LRR receptor-like kinases, which belong to the SERK gene family

Abstract. Genes encoding two novel members of the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) superfamily have been isolated from maize (Zea mays L.). These genes have been named ZmSERK1 and ZmSERK2 since features such as a putative leucine zipper (ZIP) and five leucine rich repeats in the extracellular domain, a proline-rich region (SPP) just upstream of the transmembrane domain and a C-terminal extension (C) after the kinase domain identify them as members of the SERK (omatic mbryogenesis eceptor-like inase) family. ZmSERK1 and ZmSERK2 are single-copy genes and show 79% identity among each other in their nucleotide sequences. They share a conserved intron/exon structure with other members of the SERK family. In the maize genome, ZmSERK1 maps to position 76.9 on chromosome arm 10L and ZmSERK2 to position 143.5 on chromosome arm 5L, in regions generally not involved in duplications. ZmSERK1 is preferentially expressed in male and female reproductive tissues with strongest expression in microspores. In contrast, ZmSERK2 expression is relatively uniform in all tissues investigated. Both genes are expressed in embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus cultures.

DNA variation in tissue-culture-derived rice plants

SummaryRegenerants of rice were examined by RFLP analysis to determine the occurrence and extent of somaclonal variation. DNA polymorphisms were observed both among plants regenerated from different callus cultures as well as among sibling plants derived from a single callus. Regardless of the basal medium, a higher degree of genetic instability was found among plants regenerated from callus cultures maintained for longer incubation periods (67 days) than among those from shorter incubation periods (28 days). Detailed analysis showed that in several regenerants, there was a close correlation among those plants exhibiting DNA rearrangements and those with apparent methylation changes. Such alterations were observed with both structural and housekeeping genes.

Heterologous Expression of Genes Mediating Enhanced Fungal Resistance in Transgenic Wheat

Three cDNAs encoding the antifungal protein Ag-AFP from the fungus Aspergillus giganteus, a barley class II chitinase and a barley type I RIP, all regulated by the constitutive Ubiquitin1 promoter from maize, were expressed in transgenic wheat. In 17 wheat lines, stable integration and inheritance of one of the three transgenes has been demonstrated over four generations. The formation of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici) or leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) colonies was significantly reduced on leaves from afp or chitinase II- but not from rip I-expressing wheat lines compared with non-transgenic controls. The increased resistance of afp and chitinase II lines was dependent on the dose of fungal spores used for inoculation. Heterologous expression of the fungal afp gene and the barley chitinase II gene in wheat demonstrated that colony formation and, thereby, spreading of two important biotrophic fungal diseases is inhibited approximately 40 to 50% at an inoculum density of 80 to 100 spores per cm2.