title: Evaluation of the agronomic performance of atrazine-tolerant transgenic japonica rice parental lines for utilization in hybrid seed production.
abstract: Currently, the purity of hybrid seed is a crucial limiting factor when developing hybrid japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.). To chemically control hybrid seed purity, we transferred an improved atrazine chlorohydrolase gene (atzA) from Pseudomonas ADP into hybrid japonica parental lines (two maintainers, one restorer), and Nipponbare, by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We subsequently selected several transgenic lines from each genotype by using PCR, RT-PCR, and germination analysis. In the presence of the investigated atrazine concentrations, particularly 150 µM atrazine, almost all of the transgenic lines produced significantly larger seedlings, with similar or higher germination percentages, than did the respective controls. Although the seedlings of transgenic lines were taller and gained more root biomass compared to the respective control plants, their growth was nevertheless inhibited by atrazine treatment compared to that without treatment. When grown in soil containing 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg atrazine, the transgenic lines were taller, and had higher total chlorophyll contents than did the respective controls; moreover, three of the strongest transgenic lines completely recovered after 45 days of growth. After treatment with 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg of atrazine, the atrazine residue remaining in the soil was 2.9-7.0% or 0.8-8.7% respectively, for transgenic lines, and 44.0-59.2% or 28.1-30.8%, respectively, for control plants. Spraying plants at the vegetative growth stage with 0.15% atrazine effectively killed control plants, but not transgenic lines. Our results indicate that transgenic atzA rice plants show tolerance to atrazine, and may be used as parental lines in future hybrid seed production.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Luhua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haiwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yanlan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Crop Research Institute, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shengjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Crop Research Institute, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Crop Research Institute, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Defu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D001280:Atrazine