Haploid embryo production in rice and maize induce

Authors: Joann A Conner Maricel Podio Peggy OziasAkins

Publish Date: 2017/02/25

Volume: 30, Issue: 1, Pages: 41-52

PDF Link

Abstract

The ability to engineer apomictic crop plants using genes identified from naturally occurring apomicts will depend on the ability of those genes to function in crop plants The PsASGRBBML transgene derived from the apomictic species Pennisetum squamulatum promotes parthenogenesis in sexual pearl millet a member of the same genus leading to the formation of haploid embryos This study determined that the PsASGRBBML transgene can induce haploid embryo development in two major monocot crops maize and rice Transgene variations tested included two different promoters and the use of both genomic and cDNA PsASGRBBMLderived sequences Haploid plants were recovered from mature caryopses seed of rice and maize lines at variable rates The PsASGRBBML transgenes failed to induce measurable haploid seed development in the model genetic plant system Arabidopsis thaliana Complexity of embryo development as documented in transgenic rice lines identifies the need for further characterization of the PsASGRBBML geneWe are grateful to Rebecca Grantham Yinping Guo and Greg Thomas for providing technical assistance especially with genotyping and flow cytometry and to Tracey Vellidis for figure preparation This research was funded by a Grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture AFRI Award No 20156703023494 to JAC and POA and funding through the University of Georgia MP was supported by a subaward from the CSIRO under the Capturing Heterosis for Smallholder Farmers grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Keywords: