Contents
Original Papers
Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of the wild orchid species Phalaenopsis amabilis
Endang Semiarti, Ari Indrianto, Azis Purwantoro, Sulastri Isminingsih, Nilo Suseno, Takaaki Ishikawa, Yasushi Yoshioka, Yasunori Machida, Chiyoko Machida. . . . . . . 265 [PDF]
We developed a convenient method for the genetic modification of Phalaenopsis amabilis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The Arabidopsis class 1 KNOX gene, BP/KNAT1, was successfully introduced into intact young seedlings that produced multiple shoots with abnormal shape of leaves. BP/KNAT1 can be used as a visible marker gene.
Polyamine accumulation in transgenic eggplant enhances tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses and fungal resistance
Venkat Raman Prabhavathi, Manchikatla Venkat Rajam. . . . . . . 273 [PDF]
The introduction of oat arginine decarboxylase (ADC) gene into eggplant has led to polyamine accumulation due to the increase in ADC activity. These transgenic eggplants have shown increased tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses and fungal resistance.
The role of alternating culture temperatures and maltose in enhancing the anther culture efficiency of salt tolerant indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, Pokkali and Nona Bokra
Muhammad A. Javed, Takashige Ishii, Osamu Kamijima, Shuji Misoo. . . . . . . 283 [PDF]
Alternating temperatures (30°C/20°C) and reviced N6 medium including maltose remarkably increased callus productivity and green shoot productivity in anther culture of salt tolerant indica rice cultivars, Pokkali and Nona Bokra.
Efficient selection of a high-yield line by using somaclonal variation in Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
Yuzuri Iwamoto, Wataru Nakasone, Hiroshi Ezura. . . . . . . 289 [PDF]
It became clear that direct adventitious bud regeneration was a useful technique for inducing high yielding variants in Japanese butterbur, which might be efficiently selected by monitoring the period required for third leaf initiation and the weight of rhizomes.
A virus-induced gene silencing approach for the suppression of nicotine content in Nicotiana benthamiana
Mari Takizawa, Koichi Hori, Koji Inai, Hisabumi Takase, Takashi Hashimoto, Yuichiro Watanabe. . . . . . . 295 [PDF]
We applied the tobamovirus vector system to suppress the expression of putrescine N -methyltransferase, the key enzyme for nicotine synthesis in tobacco. PMT mRNA level declined in the root and nicotine content of the aerial parts coordinately reduced.
Expression and subcellular localization of pre-rRNA processing factor homologues in higher plants
Masataka Asada, Gun-Aajav Bayarmaa, Kengo Morohashi, Kazuyuki Hiratsuka. . . . . . . 301 [PDF]
Rpf2 is involved in ribosome biogenesis and functions as one of the pre-rRNA processing factors. Results of gene expression and GFP-fusion analysis suggest that Rpf2-like proteins in higher plants are also involved in ribosome biogenesis and function as pre-rRNA processing factors.
Control of seed and root development by WIPK-activated transcription factor, NtWIF in tobacco plants
Kwi-Mi Chung, Yun-Soo Kim, Hiroshi Sano. . . . . . . 307 [PDF] [Supplement]
NtWIF (Nicotiana tabacum WIPK interacting factor) was identified as a target transcription factor of WIPK (wound-induced protein kinase). In this study, it was attempted to identify genes which are under the control of NtWIF using NtWIF- over expressed and silenced plants. The results suggest that NtWIF has dual functions in defense and in differentiation and/or development although it has been identified as a stress-induced WIPK-activated transcription factor.
Novel plant transformation system by gene-coated gold particle introduction into specific cell using ArF excimer laser
Shin’ichiro Kajiyama, Fumihide Inoue, Yoshinobu Yoshikawa, Takeshi Shoji, Eiichiro Fukusaki, Akio Kobayashi. . . . . . . 315 [PDF]
A new transfection method for intact plant cells was developed. This system utilized shock wave, which was induced by ArF excimer laser irradiation, for introduction of foreign gene-coated gold particle into plant cell with the cell wall.
Tissue-specific and DNA damage-responsive expression of the Arabidopsis RAD51 gene promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco
Seunghee Seo, Tomohide Maeda, Kazuyuki Hiratsuka. . . . . . . 321 [PDF]
Transgenic plants harboring promoter-reporter gene fusions were generated to study the expression of the AtRAD51 gene. Results of reporter gene assays sugget that the regulated expression of the AtRAD51 gene is controlled at the level of transcription.
Short Communication
Biosynthesis of thiamin-binding proteins in developing sesame seeds
Masae Ampo, Etsuko Asada, Maori Takebayashi, Kenji Shibata, Toshio Mitsunaga, Katsumi Watanabe. . . . . . . 331 [PDF]
The formation of thiamin-binding proteins (TBPs) in sesame seeds was investigated. Protein analysis by column chromatography and SDS-PAGE and Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA suggested that large TBP was first produced from a large proprotein precursor in developing seeds, and small TBPs were produced from the same polypeptide chain.
A comparative analysis of basic helix-loop-helix proteins, AtPTF1 and NtWIN4, with reference to plastid localization
Yutaka Kodama, Hiroshi Sano. . . . . . . 335 [PDF]
Cellular localization of two bHLH proteins, tobacco NtWIN4 and Arabidopsis AtPTF1, was examined by the GFP fusions. While NtWIN4 was clearly shown to localize into plastids, AtPTF1 localized only into nucleus, and exhibited nuclear transcriptional repression activity, suggesting that, contrary to former reports, it functions in nuclei, but not in plastids.
Identification of tobacco genes encoding proteins possessing removal activity of 5-methylcytosines from intact tobacco DNA
Chang-Sung Choi, Hiroshi Sano. . . . . . . 339 [PDF]
Arabidopsis enzyme, ROS1, was recently shown to exhibit 5-methylcytosines(m5C) DNA glycosylase activity. We isolated and characterized four genes encoding ROS1-like proteins from tobacco plants ( Nicotiana tabacum ).
Mobilization of a retrotransposon in 5-azacytidine-treated fungus Fusarium oxysporum
Kouichi Akiyama, Hatsue Katakami, Renkichi Takata. . . . . . . 345 [PDF]
Mobilization of a retrotransposon was shown in phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum treated with 5-azacytidine, a reagent that causes reduction in the DNA methylation level.
Notes
Breeding Note
Alteration of resistance to black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) in banana by in vitro irradiation using carbon ion-beam
Walter Oswaldo Reyes-Borja, Ignacio Sotomayor, Ivan Garzon, Danilo Vera, Mariuxi Cedeno, Behtty Castillo, Atsushi Tanaka, Yoshihiro Hase, Yoshihiko Sekozawa, Sumiko Sugaya, Hiroshi Gemma. . . . . . . 349 [PDF]
Mutagenesis by using carbon ion beams irradiation was carried out to breed banana with resistant to black Sigatoka disease, resulting in the selection of some candidates after inoculation with the pathogen at the field condition
Microarray Note
Identification of novel Arabidopsis thaliana genes which are induced by high levels of boron
Ichiro Kasajima, Toru Fujiwara. . . . . . . 355 [PDF]
To understand the profiels of regulation of gene expression in response to boron nutrition, microarray analysis of Arabidpsis thaliana treated with different boron nutritonal considions was carried out. Several genes including MATE efflux transporters were newly identified as boron responsive genes.