Molecular and Functional Characterization of GR2-R1 Event Based Backcross Derived Lines of Golden Rice in the Genetic Background of a Mega Rice Variety Swarna

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 9;12(1):e0169600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169600. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Homozygous Golden Rice lines developed in the background of Swarna through marker assisted backcross breeding (MABB) using transgenic GR2-R1 event as a donor for the provitamin A trait have high levels of provitamin A (up to 20 ppm) but are dwarf with pale green leaves and drastically reduced panicle size, grain number and yield as compared to the recurrent parent, Swarna. In this study, we carried out detailed morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization of these lines in a quest to identify the probable reasons for their abnormal phenotype. Nucleotide blast analysis with the primer sequences used to amplify the transgene revealed that the integration of transgene disrupted the native OsAux1 gene, which codes for an auxin transmembrane transporter protein. Real time expression analysis of the transgenes (ZmPsy and CrtI) driven by endosperm-specific promoter revealed the leaky expression of the transgene in the vegetative tissues. We propose that the disruption of OsAux1 disturbed the fine balance of plant growth regulators viz., auxins, gibberellic acid and abscisic acid, leading to the abnormalities in the growth and development of the lines homozygous for the transgene. The study demonstrates the conserved roles of OsAux1 gene in rice and Arabidopsis.

MeSH terms

  • Breeding*
  • Chlorophyll
  • Crosses, Genetic*
  • Genetic Background*
  • Germination
  • Homozygote
  • Oryza / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcriptome
  • Transgenes
  • Zygote

Substances

  • Chlorophyll

Grants and funding

The research work was carried out under the project titled “Development of Pro-vitamin A rich indica rice varieties through marker assisted backcross breeding using high carotenoid Golden Rice as donor” funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi. The authors thankfully acknowledge SR Rao, Senior Advisor, DBT for his critical input and coordination of the National Network on Golden Rice. The study is part of the Ph.D. research of the first author. The first author acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology for the grant of a merit fellowship.