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The expression of a maize glutathione S-transferase gene in transgenic wheat confers herbicide tolerance, both in planta and in vitro

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Abstract

Maize (Zea mays), in common with a number of other important crop species, has several glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms that have been implicated in the detoxification of xenobiotics via glutathione conjugation. A cDNA encoding the maize GST subunit GST-27, under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, was introduced into explants of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines cv. Florida and L88-31 via particle bombardment, using the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (pat) gene as a selectable marker. All six independent transgenic wheat lines recovered expressed the GST-27 gene. T1 progeny of these wheat lines were germinated on solid medium containing the chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor, and tolerance to this herbicide was correlated with GST-27 expression levels. In glasshouse sprays, homozygous T2 plants were resistant not only to alachlor but also to the chloroacetanilide herbicide dimethenamid and the thiocarbamate herbicide EPTC. These additional GST-27 activities, demonstrated via over-expression in a heterologous host, have not been described previously. T2 plants showed no enhanced tolerance to the herbicides atrazine (an s-triazine) or oxyfluorfen (a diphenyl ether). In further experiments, T2 wheat plants were recovered from immature transgenic scutella cultured on medium containing 100 mg/l alachlor, a concentration which killed null segregant and wild-type scutella. These data indicate the potential of the maize GST-27 gene as a selectable marker in wheat transformation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry and Physiology Department, IACR-Rothamsted, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    A.S. Milligan, M.A.J. Parry & P.A. Lazzeri

  2. Syngenta, Jealott's Hill Research Station, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 6ET, UK

    A. Daly & I. Jepson

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  1. A.S. Milligan
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  2. A. Daly
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  3. M.A.J. Parry
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  4. P.A. Lazzeri
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  5. I. Jepson
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Milligan, A., Daly, A., Parry, M. et al. The expression of a maize glutathione S-transferase gene in transgenic wheat confers herbicide tolerance, both in planta and in vitro. Molecular Breeding 7, 301–315 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011652821765

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