Expression vector p301-bG1 contains a Sw gene and a bialaphos resistance gene both driven by glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene promoter isolated from Lentinus edodes ( Berk.) Sing. Using p301-bG1, PEG-mediated transformation of protoplast of L. edodes was studied. Mixed with PEG-purified plasmid DNA, the protoplasts of L. edodes were treated with PEG solution and cultured on CYM regeneration plate containing 40 mug/mL bialaphos. Bialaphos-resistant and GUS-positive transformants were obtained using this transformation system. Although the transformation efficiency was relatively low, the protocols release large expenses on expensive instrument and restriction enzymes, providing a simple and economical method for mushroom breeding at the molecular level.
The coding sequence of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (vhb) was cloned with PCR technique from Vitreoscilla stercoraria Pringsheim. The plant expression vector with vhb gene under the control of CaMV 35S promoter was constructed and used in the transformation of Petunia hybrida Vilm by the Agrobacterium mediated procedure. The results of PCR amplification and Southern hybridization indicated that the vhb gene had been integrated into the petunia genome and the vhb gene expression had been detected by RT-PCR amplification. In hydroponic culture the transgenic petunias grew much better than non-transgenic controls. For further analysis of hypoxia tolerance of transgenic petunia, the petunia plants with vhb gene were submerged into liquid MS medium. The transgenic plants survived in hypoxic condition and grew out of the liquid surface in a few weeks, while non-transgenic plants were still submerged and suffocated in culture solution without ability to grow out of liquid medium in submersed culture for four to five weeks. The vhb gene transformed petunia plants had been planted and tested in a simulated flooding condition, and showed obvious tolerance to water-logging. It seen is that hemoglobin gene from Vitreoscilla might have the potential use in molecular breeding for the improvement of plant resistance to hypoxia and flooding.
