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Engineering greater aluminium resistance in wheat by over-expressing TaALMT1
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 02:51 authored by Pereira, JF, Zhou, G, Delhaize, E, Richardson, T, Meixue ZhouMeixue Zhou, Ryan, PRBackground and Aims: Expected increases in world population will continue to make demands on agricultural productivity and food supply. These challenges will only be met by increasing the land under cultivation and by improving the yields obtained on existing farms. Genetic engineering can target key traits to improve crop yields and to increase production on marginal soils. Soil acidity is a major abiotic stress that limits plant production worldwide. The goal of this study was to enhance the acid soil tolerance of wheat by increasing its resistance to Al3+ toxicity. Methods: Particle bombardment was used to transform wheat with TaALMT1, the Al3+ resistance gene from wheat, using the maize ubiquitin promoter to drive expression. TaALMT1 expression, malate efflux and Al3+ resistance were measured in the T1 and T2 lines and compared with the parental line and an Al3+-resistant reference genotype, ET8. Key Results: Nine T2 lines showed increased TaALMT1 expression, malate efflux and Al3+ resistance when compared with untransformed controls and null segregant lines. Some T2 lines displayed greater Al3+ resistance than ET8 in both hydroponic and soil experiments. Conclusions: The Al3+ resistance of wheat was increased by enhancing TaALMT1 expression with biotechnology. This is the first report of a major food crop being stably transformed for greater Al3+ resistance. Transgenic strategies provide options for increasing food supply on acid soils.
History
Publication title
Annals of BotanyVolume
106Pagination
205-214ISSN
0305-7364Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)Publisher
Oxford Univ PressPlace of publication
Great Clarendon St, Oxford, England, Ox2 6DpRights statement
The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: www.oxfordjournals.orgRepository Status
- Restricted