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Research article2003Peer reviewed

The rooting ability of the dwarfing pear rootstock BP10030 (Pyrus communis) was significantly increased by introduction of the rolB gene

Zhu LH, Li XY, Ahlman A, Welander M

Abstract

The pear rootstock BP10030 (Pyrus communis) is dwarf, frost hardy and compatible with most pear varieties, but very difficult to propagate due to its poor rooting ability. In order to improve its rooting ability, we transformed this rootstock with the rolB gene. Six transgenic clones were obtained and named 1-6. PCR and Southern hybridisation confirmed that all the transgenic clones contained the rolB and nptII genes, but only two of them contained the gus gene. The in vitro rooting results showed that the transgenic clones rooted from 67 to 100% without auxin, while the untransformed control did not root at all on the hormone free rooting medium. To further confirm the increased rooting ability of these clones, cutting experiments were carried out oil four transgenic clones (1-4) and the untransformed control in the greenhouse. The rooting percentage ranged from 71 to 100 for the transgenic clones and only five for the untransformed control. Moreover, the root number was also greatly increased ranging from I I to 17 for the transgenic clones, but only 3 for the untransformed control. Another important alteration by the insertion of the rolB gene was the root morphology. For the transformed clones, the roots were distributed evenly on the cut surface, but only oil one side of the Cut surface of the untransformed control. Growth analysis in the greenhouse, conducted on four transgenic clones (I 4) and the Untransformed control, showed that three of the transgenic clones had a shortened stem length. The transgenic clones did not show any other visual alteration in shoot phenotype compared with the untransformed control plants. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Keywords

Cutting; dwarfing rootstock; Pyrus; rolB Rooting; transformation

Published in

Plant Science
2003, Volume: 165, number: 4, pages: 829-835
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Zhu, Li-Hua

      • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Li, Xue-Yuan

        • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

        • Ahlman, Annelie

          • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          • Welander, Margareta

            • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Horticulture

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(03)00279-6

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/463