Generation of insect-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant rice by introduction of a T-DNA containing two Bt insecticidal genes and an EPSPS gene

Insect resistance and glyphosate tolerance have been two of the most important traits in the genetic improvement of various crops. In this study, two Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal genes, Cry1Ac and Cry1Ig, and a modified glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene (G10) were combined into a single transferred DNA (T-DNA) fragment and introduced into rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A transgenic line with single-copy T-DNA insertion named GAI-14 was found to be highly resistant to striped stem borer and rice leaf roller, and tolerant to glyphosate. Analysis of T-DNA border sequence suggested that the transgenes were inserted at the chromosome 3 and appeared to have not interrupted any known or putative genes. A field trial observed no significant difference in the basic agronomic traits between GAI-14 and the recipient rice.     

Reduction of methylviologen-mediated oxidative stress tolerance in antisense transgenic tobacco seedlings through restricted expression of StAPX

Ascorbate peroxidases are directly involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging by reducing hydrogen peroxide to water. The tomato thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase gene (StAPX) was introduced into tobacco. RNA gel blot analysis confirmed that StAPX in tomato leaves was induced by methylviologen-mediated oxidative stress. The sense transgenic seedlings exhibited higher tAPX activity than that of the wild type (WT) plants under oxidative stress conditions, while the antisense seedlings exhibited lower tAPX activity. Lower APX activities of antisense transgenic seedlings caused higher malondialdehyde contents and relative electrical conductivity. The sense transgenic seedlings with higher tAPX activity maintained higher chlorophyll content and showed the importance of tAPX in maintaining the optimal chloroplast development under methylviologen stress conditions, whereas the antisense lines maintained lower chlorophyll content than WT seedlings. Results indicated that the over-expression of StAPX enhanced tolerance to methylviologen-mediated oxidative stress in sense transgenic tobacco early seedlings, whereas the suppression of StAPX in antisense transgenic seedlings showed high sensitivity to oxidative stress.     

How agricultural research systems shape a technological regime that develops genetic engineering but locks out agroecological innovations

Agricultural science and technology (S&T) is under great scrutiny. Reorientation towards more holistic approaches, including agroecology, has recently been backed by a global international assessment of agriculture S&T for development (IAASTD). Understanding the past and current trends of agricultural S&T is crucial if such recommendations are to be implemented. This paper shows how the concepts of technological paradigms and trajectories can help analyse the agricultural S&T landscape and dynamics. Genetic engineering and agroecology can be usefully analysed as two different technological paradigms, even though they have not been equally successful in influencing agricultural research. We used a Systems of Innovation (SI) approach to identify the determinants of innovation (the factors that influence research choices) within agricultural research systems. The influence of each determinant is systematically described (e.g. funding priorities, scientists’ cognitive and cultural routines etc.). As a result of their interactions, these determinants construct a technological regime and a lock-in situation that hinders the development of agroecological engineering. Issues linked to breaking out of this lock-in situation are finally discussed.     

Science Letters:Expression of a begomoviral DNAβ gene in transgenic Nicotiana plants induced abnormal cell division

An increasing number of monopartite begomoviruses are being identified that a satellite molecule (DNAβ) is required to induce typical symptoms in host plants. DNAβ encodes a single gene (termed βC1) encoded in the complementary-sense. We have produced transgenic Nicotiana     

转基因农产品生物安全评价中的非科学因素分析

转基因农产品的生物安全评价至今仍然是一个十分复杂、困难的问题,其中包含了一些经济贸易、消费心理和社会文化等非科学因素的影响。为了让公众获得更为客观的生物安全信息。有必要区分评价过程中的非科学因素,加强生物安全评价中的国际合作。在我国,要多从粮食安全的角度考虑转基因农产品的生物安全问题．避免错失此项技术的发展机遇。     

番茄ACC合成酶反义基因在转基因猕猴桃中表达的初步研究

利用从番茄(Lycopersicum esculentumMill.)果实中分离到的ACC合成酶cDNA基因，反向置于CaMV35S启动子的控制之下(所用根癌杆农菌中合有改建后分别携带嵌合NPT Ⅱ基因和番茄的ACC合成酶反义基因的质粒)，并转入美味猕猴桃(Actinidiadeliciosa cv.Hayward)的愈伤组织中。通过分化，2周后获得了能在附加羧苄青霉素(Carbenicillin,500mg/l)和卡那霉素(Kanamycin,50mg/l)的MSA(MS盐类，3．0mg/lBA，0．2mg/l IAA)培养基上生长的抗性愈伤组织。经过半年多的继代培养并筛选，获得了大量的抗卡那霉素(50mg/l)的丛芽以及由抗性芽发育形成的抗性试管苗。探讨了在用卡那霉素进行筛选的条件下影响愈伤组织诱导率的一些因素。