Modification of flower color in florist's chrysanthemum: production of a white-flowering variety through molecular genetics.
Chimeric chalcone synthase (CHS) constructs were prepared in both anti-sense and sense orientations, and introduced into the chrysanthemum cultivar Moneymaker, along with a T-DNA vector lacking a CHS construct. For both the anti-sense and sense constructs, the majority of the plants produced pink flowers typical of Moneymaker itself. Of 133 sense and 83 anti-sense transgenic individuals 3 of each set produced fully white or very pale pink flowers. No white-flowering transgenic plants were obtained in control transformations. The white flowers were found to accumulate higher levels of chalcone synthase precursors and to have reduced levels of chalcone synthase message. A small-scale field trial was performed to evaluate the stability of the phenotype throughout a series of vegetative propagation steps and during plant growth. The white-flowering trait was maintained well through vegetative propagation; however, during growth of individual white-flowering plants, some pink color was found in some flowers. At one site 2% of the white-flowering plants produced a few pink flowers; at two other sites, as many as 10-12% of the plants produced pale pink flowers.
Courtney-Gutterson
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DNA Plant Technology Corporation, Oakland, CA 94608.
Napoli
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Lemieux
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C
Morgan
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A
Firoozabady
E
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Robinson
K E
KE
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D007221:Industry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000217:Acyltransferases; C020141:flavanone synthetase