Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2006Peer reviewed

Characterisation of transgenic oilseed rape expressing pea lectin in anthers for improved resistance to pollen beetle

Ahman IM, Kazachkova NI, Kamnert IM, Hagberg PA, Dayteg CI, Eklund GM, Meijer LJO, Ekbom B

Abstract

In order to evaluate pea lectin as a resistance factor against the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus), transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus) has been produced wherein the pea lectin gene expression is driven by a pollen-specific promoter. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterise non-segregating transgenic and non-transgenic lines to be compared in various future tests for benefits and risks associated with such transgenic crop plants. Three doubled haploid (DH) populations (1436, 1440 and 1451) expected to include lectin-producing lines and two DH populations (1443 and 1449) expected to be free of lectin were produced. All five populations originated from different transformation events in the cultivar Westar. The relative amounts of DNA from the marker gene cassette were quantified by conventional as well as real-time PCR analyses and lectin concentrations were estimated by western blot analysis. Two populations with high lectin concentrations, 1436 and 1451, contained higher amounts of the marker DNA and thus more lectin gene copies as compared with 1440 which had lower concentrations of the lectin. As expected all DH lines from 1443 and 1449 were free of lectin. Maximum pea lectin concentration obtained corresponded to 3% of total soluble protein in the anthers. There were significant differences between the populations with respect to bud and flowering stage phenology as well as seed yields, but the differences were not related to their transgenic status. All in all there were 171 lines tested for phenology and transgenic status, out of which 89 with similar phenology were subjected to tests for lectin concentration and seed yield, and 20 of these lines were retested in the next generation. Finally two lines with high lectin concentrations and one with an intermediate level along with two matching non-transgenic lines were selected for future benefit/risk experiments

Published in

Euphytica
2006, Volume: 151, number: 3, pages: 321-330
Publisher: SPRINGER

      SLU Authors

          • Ekbom, Barbara

            • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

          UKÄ Subject classification

          Agricultural Science
          Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

          Publication identifier

          DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-006-9152-1

          Permanent link to this page (URI)

          https://res.slu.se/id/publ/9263