The orf13 T-DNA gene of Agrobacterium rhizogenes confers meristematic competence to differentiated cells

Plant infections by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium rhizogenes result in neoplastic disease with the formation of hairy roots at the site of infection. Expression of a set of oncogenes residing on the stably integrated T-DNA is responsible for the disease symptoms. Besides the rol (root locus) genes, which are essential for the formation of hairy roots, the open reading frame orf13 mediates cytokinin-like effects, suggesting an interaction with hormone signaling pathways. Here we show that ORF13 induced ectopic expression of KNOX (KNOTTED1-like homeobox) class transcription factors, as well as of several genes involved in cell cycle control in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). ORF13 has a retinoblastoma (RB)-binding motif and interacted with maize (Zea mays) RB in vitro, whereas ORF13, bearing a point mutation in the RB-binding motif (ORF13*), did not. Increased cell divisions in the vegetative shoot apical meristem and accelerated formation of leaf primordia were observed in plants expressing orf13, whereas the expression of orf13* had no influence on cell division rates in the shoot apical meristem, suggesting a role of RB in the regulation of the cell cycle in meristematic tissues. On the other hand, ectopic expression of LeT6 was not dependent on a functional RB-binding motif. Hormone homeostasis was only altered in explants of leaves, whereas in the root no effects were observed. We suggest that ORF13 confers meristematic competence to cells infected by A. rhizogenes by inducing the expression of KNOX genes and promotes the transition of infected cells from the G1 to the S phase by binding to RB.

Natural Genetic Transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes : Annual Flowering in Two Biennials, Belgian Endive and Carrot

Genetic transformation of Belgian endive (Cichorium intybus) and carrot (Daucus carota) by Agrobacterium rhizogenes resulted in a transformed phenotype, including annual flowering. Back-crossing of transformed (R1) endive plants produced a line that retained annual flowering in the absence of the other traits associated with A. rhizogenes transformation. Annualism was correlated with the segregation of a truncated transferred DNA (T-DNA) insertion. During vegetative growth, carbohydrate reserves accumulated normally in these annuals, and they were properly mobilized prior to anthesis. The effects of individual root-inducing left-hand T-DNA genes on flowering were tested in carrot, in which rolC (root locus) was the primary promoter of annualism and rolD caused extreme dwarfism. We discuss the possible adaptive significance of this attenuation of the phenotypic effects of root-inducing left-hand T-DNA.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation of the Phaseolus spp.: A tool for functional genomics

A fast, reproducible, and efficient transformation procedure employing Agrobacterium rhizogenes was developed for Phaseolus vulgaris L. wild accessions, landraces, and cultivars and for three other species belonging to the genus Phaseolus: R coccineus, P lunatus, and P acutifolius. Induced hairy roots are robust and grow quickly. The transformation frequency is between 75 and 90% based on the 35-S promoter-driven green fluorescent protein and beta-glucuronidase expression reporter constructs. When inoculated with Rhizobium tropici, transgenic roots induce normal determinate nodules that fix nitrogen as efficiently as inoculated standard roots. The A. rhizogenes-induced hairy root transformation in the genus Phaseolus sets the foundation for functional genomics programs focused on root physiology, root metabolism, and root-microbe interactions.

Composite Medicago truncatula plants harbouring Agrobacterium rhizogenes-transformed roots reveal normal mycorrhization by Glomus intraradices

Composite plants consisting of a wild-type shoot and a transgenic root are frequently used for functional genomics in legume research. Although transformation of roots using Agrobacterium rhizogenes leads to morphologically normal roots, the question arises as to whether such roots interact with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the same way as wild-type roots. To address this question, roots transformed with a vector containing the fluorescence marker DsRed were used to analyse AM in terms of mycorrhization rate, morphology of fungal and plant subcellular structures, as well as transcript and secondary metabolite accumulations. Mycorrhization rate, appearance, and developmental stages of arbuscules were identical in both types of roots. Using Mt16kOLI1Plus microarrays, transcript profiling of mycorrhizal roots showed that 222 and 73 genes exhibited at least a 2-fold induction and less than half of the expression, respectively, most of them described as AM regulated in the same direction in wild-type roots. To verify this, typical AM marker genes were analysed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and revealed equal transcript accumulation in transgenic and wild-type roots. Regarding secondary metabolites, several isoflavonoids and apocarotenoids, all known to accumulate in mycorrhizal wild-type roots, have been found to be up-regulated in mycorrhizal in comparison with non-mycorrhizal transgenic roots. This set of data revealed a substantial similarity in mycorrhization of transgenic and wild-type roots of Medicago truncatula, validating the use of composite plants for studying AM-related effects.

Expression patterns of vascular-specific promoters RolC and Sh in transgenic potatoes and their use in engineering PLRV-resistant plants

The expression patterns of GUS fusion constructs driven by the Agrobacterium rhizogenes RolC and the maize Sh (Shrunken: sucrose synthase-1) promoters were examined in transgenic potatoes (cv. Atlantic). RolC drove high-level gene expression in phloem tissue, bundle sheath cells and vascular parenchyma, but not in xylem or non-vascular tissues. Sh expression was exclusively confined to phloem tissue. Potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV) replicates only in phloem tissues, and we show that when RolC is used to drive expression of the PLRV coat protein gene, virus-resistant lines can be obtained. In contrast, no significant resistance was observed when the Sh promoter was used.

农杆菌对毛白杨的转化及完整转化植株的获得

本文报道农杆菌转化毛白杨的高效遗传转化系统的建立。所用农杆菌菌株为：1.发根农杆菌R1000，含有Ri质粒pRiA4b。2.发根农杆菌R1000(pTVK85)，是菌株R1000中除含有pRiA4b外，并兼容一个带有超致病区(Supervirulent region)的质粒pTVK85。3.根癌农杆菌C58C1(pBZ693)，其质粒pBZ693是改建过的Ti质粒，载有T-DNA的基因1和基因2。将毛白杨外植体分别与上述菌株在MS+0.5ppm激动素培养基上先培养2天后，转移至MS+500ppm氨噻肟头胞霉素的培养基上。一个星期后即有根从外植体上产生。根癌农杆菌诱导的根形态明显与发根农杆菌诱导的根不同。R1000(pTVK85)诱导生根的外植体可占供试外植体总数的59%。转化的根有的可自发地形成不定芽或愈伤组织。通过培养基中激素的调整，可使转化的根系统100%再生出不定芽，并可由这些不定芽得到完整植株。转化植株的各克隆之间表型差异很大。有的地上部形态正常，仅根系与未转化植株有所不同。有的节间短、叶片多、顶端优势弱、根系发达而多发枝、多根毛。但所有转化植株皆无皱叶现象，其叶片形态与正常植株无异。普遍地有根生于植株的培养基平面以上部分的现象。取三个克隆的植株进行Southern杂交，其中两个为杂交阳性，表明确已被转化;另一个克隆为杂交阴性。

青蒿的遗传转化及青蒿素生物合成的调控

利用发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)1601，1000，1500，15834，A4，均成功地转化了中药青蒿(Artemisia annua L.)并且建立了pRi1601，pRi15834，pRiA4诱导的发根培养。pRi1601，pRi15834的发根诱导率比其它质粒高。太老或太幼的叶片不利子发根的诱导;发根主要从叶脉的伤口处萌发;带顶芽或带侧芽的叶片容易诱导根，但不一定是发根。光照有利于发根的诱导和发根的生长。以每个发根的“绝对生长速率”(Gtowth Ratio，GR)和绝对“侧根”数量(Number of Side Roots，NSR），通过大量的发根系的筛选，建立了8个发根系，1601-L-1, 1601-L-2, 1601-L-3, 1601-L-4, 15834-L-1, 1601-P-I, 16 01-P-2，15834-L-2。Southern分子检测表明，160l-1-1，1801-L-2, 1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-1，1601-P-2均为转化子。8个建立的发根系之间无论生长或者QHS的合成存在明显的差异。比较光／暗(16/8hrs)，25℃条件下培养的16 01-L-1，1601-L-2，1601-L-3，1601-L-4，1601-P-l，和1601-P-2，其中16 01-L-3的生长最快，160l-L-1的生长最慢;但是，1601-L-1的QHS的含量最高（可达1. 048%），1601-1-3的QHS的含量最低。160Z-L-3，15834 -L-1和2583:1-L-2的生长速率相差不大。用盛有l000mLMS液体培养基的3000mL的锥形瓶扩大培养1601-L -3，15834-L-1和15834-L-2，转速为ll0rlpm，培养过程中发根容易形成发根球（Hairy Root Balis，HRB），HRB的形成严重影响发根的生长和QHs的合成，HpLC分析表明扩大培养发根中QHS的含量比较低。 改变MS基本培养基中的无机离子的浓度，研究不同无机离子对发根生长和QHS的合成的影响。 l、KN03为18.79×10-3M时有利于1601- L-1生长，为14. 84×10-3M时有利于QHS的合成。NH-4N0-3浓度在10.93-12. 49×10—3M范围内有利于1601-L-1生长，在0-20.62×10-3M范围内对QHS的合成影响不大，大于20. 62×lO-3M不利QHS的合成。培养基中NH-4+／N0-3-比值为0. 37-0. 4-0.52:1时有利于发根的生长，比值为0.52 - 0.58:1时有利于QHS的合成。 2、H-2P0-4-浓度为2.498×10-3M时有利于发根的生长在0-2. 498×l0-3M范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进发根的生长。培养基中的H2P4 -的浓度在0-1.249×lO-3M的范围内，随着浓度的提高，促进QHS的合成，为1.249×10-3M时QHS的含量最高。 3、培养基中最适16 01-L-1生长的Ca-2+浓度为0.198- 0.766×10-3M，大于或小于该浓度范围，显著地抑制发根的生长。但是，在0-3.695×10-3M范围内，随着培养基中Ca-2+浓度提高，促进QHS的合成，最适Ca-2+浓度为3.695×l0-3M。 4、培养基中不加Mg-2+时，完全抑制发根生长，在0. 142×10-3M-7.506×l0-3M浓度范围内，对发根生长影响没有明显的差别。但是，HPLC和UV分析发根中QHS含量，培养基中不加Mg-2+时，发根中QHS含量最高。 5、培养基中的Fe-2+浓度在0. 25 -1．0×10-3M范围内，同时有利于16 01- L-1的生长和QHS的形成。 6、培养基中最适合予16 01- L-3生长的KI浓度为2.5ppm，大于或小予该浓度均显著地抑制发根的生长，培养基中加入KI明显地降低发根中的QHS的含量。 7、H2BO3对l601-L-l生长影响不大，HPLC分析QHS的含量，培养基中的H3BO3浓度为100ppm和400ppm，QHS的含量分别为1.69mg/g和1.80mg/g(DW)。 8、Cu-2+对1601-L-3的生长影响显著，最适合1601-L-3生长的Cu-2+浓度为1.00ppm，在0 -1.00ppm的浓度范围内，随着培养基中的Cu+浓度的提高，发根的生物量不断增加。培养基中QHS合成的最适Cu2+浓度为0.05ppm，大于或小于该浓度均显著地抑制发根中QHS的合成。 比较光培养和暗培养对发根生长的影响，结果表明光照明显地促进1601-L-l的生长，暗培养明显不利于发根的生长。最适合于发根生长的温度为25℃，大于35℃显著地抑制发根的生长，影响发根的根尖细胞的正常分裂。 改变培养基中的蔗糖浓度和在发根培养的不同时期给培养基中添加蔗糖，试验结果表明蔗糖作为碳源对1601-L-3和1601-L-1的生长具有显著的影响。 (1)培养基中缺少蔗糖显著地抑制发根的生长。 (2)发根培养的前5天时间内，蔗糖浓度为30- 60glL昀培养基最有利于发根的生长，50glL的培养基中的发根生长最快，培养基中的蔗糖浓度大于60g/L小于30g／L时，发根的生物量增加较少。 (3)发根培养至第15天时，蔗糖浓度为60g/L的培养基最有利予发根的生物量的增加。发根培养至30天时，蔗糖浓度为60-90g/L的培养基，发根的生物量的增加相差不大，但是为蔗糖浓度为30-40g/L的培养基中的发根生物量一倍。 (4)发根培养过程中，分别于第5和15天给蔗糖浓度为30g/L的培养基中添加一次或二次蔗糖，使培养基中的蔗糖终浓度相当于60g/L或90g/L，培养至30天时，添加蔗糖的培养基中的发根的干重生物量相当于不添加蔗糖培养基中的发根生物量一倍，相当于初始蔗糖浓度为60g/L和90g/L培养基中发根的生物量。 (5)随着培养基中蔗糖浓度的提高，发根干重/鲜重比显著增加。培养基中的蔗糖的消耗量与发根生物量的增加呈正相关，蔗糖消耗越多，发根生物量的增加越大。 比较pH值对发根生长和QHS合成的影响表明，灭菌前pH值在5.O-6.5范围内的培养基适合予1601-L-1的生长，小于5.O不利于发根的生长，pH5.8有利于1601-1-1生长和QHS的生物合成。发根收获时培养基中的pH值一般为4.5-5.2. pH7.O抑制发根的生长，pHl0.O对发根具有强烈的致死作用。发根在培养过程中，对培养基中的pH值具有显著的调节作用，发根能在很短的时间内(24- 48hrs)使pl:l值为5.8、6.4、7.0培养基降低到pH4. 5-5.2，pH为5.8的培养基有利于QHS合成。 比较不同基本培养基对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明N6、DCR、Litvay培养基有利于1601-L-1的生长，WS、White、B5培养基不利于发根的生长。DCR培养基中的QHS含量最高。 根据三水平试验选用三水平正交表来安排试验的原则，选用三水平正交表L7(3-)，研究多因子效应对发根生长和QHS合成的影响，试验结果表明，Mg2+，Fe2+，Mn-2+，NH4NO3，KN03 ,KI,Ca-2+为发根生长的主要因子，NH4N03，KNOs，Mg2+，Ca2+，肌醇为QHS合成的主要因子。 通过TLC分析发根中QHS和其它化学成分，同时比较发根和无菌苗及野生植株的化学成分，发根和无菌苗均能合成包括QHS在内的野生青蒿叶片中的大部分非挥发性的化台 物。 研究青蒿植株在发育过程中QHS的含量的变化以及发根、无菌苗和野生青蒿中QHS的合成，HP分析结果表明，l、不同的单株青蒿之间的QHS量相差很大。2、同一植株幼 叶的QHS含量比老叶的QHS含量高。3、不同单株青蒿之间达到最高QHS含量的时间不一样，开花期或开花之前。4、无菌苗（带根）或者不带根丛生芽均能合成QHS，但是带根的无菌蕾的QHS量比丛生芽中的QIS的含量高。5、不同发根农杆菌转化的发根系1601-L-1和15834-L-1都能合成ＱＨＳ。

roIC基因和MT基因特性及其表达的研究

植物种子萌发、开花结实和衰老等一系列生长发育过程，都受到植物激素的影响。细胞分裂素作为重要的生长调节物质，对其传统生物化学和生理学特性的研究已积累子大量资料。随着分子生物学的发展，对植物激素的研究又进一步从单纯的生物学描述阶段深入到分子水平研究的阶段。尤其是近年来对来自病原微生物植物激素相关基因的研究，为揭示细胞分裂素的作用机理和细胸分裂素的水平调节机制的阐明开辟了新的途径。 根瘤农杆菌T-DNA上ipt、iaaM和iaaH基因和发根农杆菌的rol基因表达产物与植物激素的代谢有关。rolC基因是位于发根农杆菌T-DNA区的12号开放读框，编码细胞分裂素-β-葡萄糖苷酶，水解结合态细胞分裂素为自由态细胞分裂素。ipt基因编码异戊烯基转移酶，是细胞分裂素合成过程中的关键酶。 本文用PCR方法从发根农杆菌（Agrobacterium rhizogenes）1601质粒中扩增 rolC基因，并构建CaMV 35S启动子驱动下的双元表达载体。以农杆菌介导的叶盘法，分别对野生型烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. W38）和已转入异戊烯基转移酶基因（ipt）的3F1和3F2烟草进行转达化。Southern blot和Northern Dot Blot分析表明，rolC基因已导入烟草植株，并具有转录活性。转基因烟草的形态特征与细胞分裂素过量表达的植株表现出的特征一致。 用ELISA方法测定转基因烟草植株中激素的含量，结果显示，单独转rolC基因烟草和同时转入rolC和ipt两个基因的烟草，细胞分裂素的水平有不同程度的提高。转基因烟草表现多芽、节间缩短、叶色深绿等现象。同时，转基因烟草内部发生生理变化，如总自由氨基酸、脯氨酸在正常情况下较对照减少，气孔延迟关闭。在干旱胁迫下，转基因烟草随水势的降低、总自由氨基酸和脯氨酸的变化与对照不同。转基因烟草在开始干旱阶段较对照的总自由氨基酸和脯氨酸含量低，随着干旱胁迫的加深，植物中自由氨基酸的含量增加，但转基因植物自由氨基酸的含量高峰值出现时间较对照推迟。干旱胁迫48小时后，恢复给水，转基因植物较对照易恢复正常生长状态，表明转细胞分裂素基因植物抗旱能力增强。另外，叶片总蛋白SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明，转基因植物蛋白质含量高于对照，某些蛋白组分所占比例也明显提高。 综上所述，转rolC和ipt基因烟草的形态和生理变化，是细胞分裂素过量表达引起植物体内激素失衡的结果。

Horizontal gene transfer and mutation: Ngrol genes in the genome of Nicotiana glauca

Ngrol genes (NgrolB, NgrolC, NgORF13, and NgORF14) that are similar in sequence to genes in the left transferred DNA (TL-DNA) of Agrobacterium rhizogenes have been found in the genome of untransformed plants of Nicotiana glauca. It has been suggested that a bacterial infection resulted in transformation of Ngrol genes early in the evolution of the genus Nicotiana. Although the corresponding four rol genes in TL-DNA provoked hairy-root syndrome in plants, present-day N. glauca and plants transformed with Ngrol genes did not exhibit this phenotype. Sequenced complementation analysis revealed that the NgrolB gene did not induce adventitious roots because it contained two point mutations. Single-base site-directed mutagenesis at these two positions restored the capacity for root induction to the NgrolB gene. When the NgrolB, with these two base substitutions, was positioned under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (P35S), transgenic tobacco plants exhibited morphological abnormalities that were not observed in P35s-RirolB plants. In contrast, the activity of the NgrolC gene may have been conserved after an ancient infection by bacteria. Discussed is the effect of the horizontal gene transfer of the Ngrol genes and mutations in the NgrolB gene on the phenotype of ancient plants during the evolution of N. glauca.

Cell-Specific Production and Antimicrobial Activity of Naphthoquinones in Roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon1

Pigmented naphthoquinone derivatives of shikonin are produced at specific times and in specific cells of Lithospermum erythrorhizon roots. Normal pigment development is limited to root hairs and root border cells in hairy roots grown on “noninducing” medium, whereas induction of additional pigment production by abiotic (CuSO4) or biotic (fungal elicitor) factors increases the amount of total pigment, changes the ratios of derivatives produced, and initiates production of pigment de novo in epidermal cells. When the biological activity of these compounds was tested against soil-borne bacteria and fungi, a wide range of sensitivity was recorded. Acetyl-shikonin and β-hydroxyisovaleryl-shikonin, the two most abundant derivatives in both Agrobacterium rhizogenes-transformed “hairy-root” cultures and greenhouse-grown plant roots, were the most biologically active of the seven compounds tested. Hyphae of the pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Nectria hematococca induced localized pigment production upon contact with the roots. Challenge by R. solani crude elicitor increased shikonin derivative production 30-fold. We have studied the regulation of this suite of related, differentially produced, differentially active compounds to understand their role(s) in plant defense at the cellular level in the rhizosphere.

Adventitious rooting of conifers: influence of biological factors

Vegetative propagation of superior conifer trees can be achieved e.g. through rooted cuttings or rooted microshoots, the latter predominantly through in vitro tissue culture. Both techniques are used to achieve rapid multiplication of trees with favorable genetic combinations and to capture a large proportion of the genetic diversity in a single generation cycle. However, adventitious rooting of shoots (cuttings) is often not efficient due to various problems such as scarcity of roots and cessation of their growth, both of which limit the application of vegetative propagation in some conifer species. Many factors are involved in the adventitious rooting of shoots including physical and chemical ones such as plant growth regulators, carbohydrates, light quality, temperature and rooting substrates or media (reviewed by Ragonezi et al. 2010). The focus of this review is on biological factors, such as inoculations with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, plant- growth-promoting rhizobacteria and other endophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi, which were found to stimulate adventitious rooting. These microorganisms could contribute not only to adventitious root development but also help in protecting conifer plants against pathogenic microorganisms, facilitate acclimation and transplanting, and contribute to more sustainable, chemical-free forests.

Efficient genetic transformation and regeneration system from hairy root of Origanum vulgare.

2016

Enhancing agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of sugarcane : progress towards an efficient, genotype-independent method

Several key issues need to be resolved before an efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated sugarcane transformation method can be developed for a wider range of sugarcane cultivars. These include loss of morphogenetic potential in sugarcane cells after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, effect of exposure to abiotic stresses during in vitro selection, and most importantly the hypersensitive cell death response of sugarcane (and other nonhost plants) to Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Eight sugarcane cultivars (Q117, Q151, Q177, Q200, Q208, KQ228, QS94-2329, and QS94-2174) were evaluated for loss of morphogenetic potential in response to the age of the culture, exposure to Agrobacterium strains, and exposure to abiotic stresses during selection. Corresponding changes in the polyamine profiles of these cultures were also assessed. Strategies were then designed to minimize the negative effects of these factors on the cell survival and callus proliferation following Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Some of these strategies, including the use of cell death protector genes and regulation of intracellular polyamine levels, will be discussed.