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Background: As a member
of the Australian CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding (MPBCRC),
CIMMYT has access to a range of candidate genes and genomic
resources for development of abiotic stress tolerance in crops.
One such example is represented by a Xenogenomics resource,
available to MPBCRC, from a range of Australian native and
exotic grasses. A total of 30 cDNA libraries were constructed,
tested and used for the discovery of expressed sequence tags
(ESTs) based on high-throughput DNA sequencing. cDNA libraries
were constructed with RNA samples from target plant organs
obtained from identified native and exotic species with particular
adaptation to abiotic stresses such as saline soils, aluminium/low
pH, extreme drought, low soil nutrients and cold. Thirteen
cDNA libraries from leaves and roots of temperature-stressed
antarctic hair-grass (Deschampsia antarctica - the
sole graminaceous monocot plant adapted to the unique extreme
antarctic environment) plants, 5 cDNA libraries from salt-stressed
salt blown-grass (Agrostis robusta) plants, 8 cDNA
libraries from salt-stressed Adamson’s bentgrass (Agrostis
adamsonii) and 4 cDNA libraries from high-aluminium stressed
weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides) plants were
generated. In total 5,662 ESTs from D. antarctica;
5,518 ESTs from A. robusta; 3,915 ESTs from A.
adamsonii and 3,977 ESTs from M. stipoides were
generated.
Objectives:
- Obtain candidates in appropriate constructs
for testing in transgenic wheat
- Develop sufficient numbers of events
for each gene construct using the super transformable MPB
Bobwhite-26 variety
- Screen the transformants under various
abiotic stresses (eg, water, heat and salt) to determine
the level of toelrance
- For effective genes, develop Agrobacterium-based
trangenics for further field testing and product development
Target Germplasm: MPB Bobwhite-26,
MPB Bobwhite-56, other wheat varieties
Gene(s): Various candidate
genes as outlined above.
Partner(s): Department
of Primary Industries (DPI), Australia
Status: Initial gene constructs
are being produced.
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