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Development of transgenic imazapyr-tolerant cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

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Here we present the development of cowpea lines tolerant to a herbicide from imidazoline class (imazapyr). Plants presented tolerance to fourfold the commercial recommended dose for weed control.

Abstract

Cowpea is one of the most important and widely cultivated legumes in many parts of the world. Its cultivation is drastically affected by weeds, causing damages during growth and development of plants, competing for light, nutrients and water. Consequently, weed control is critical, especially using no-tillage farming systems. In tropical regions, no-till farming is much easier with the use of herbicides to control weeds. This study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of obtaining transgenic cowpea plants resistant to imidazolinone, which would facilitate weed control during the summer season. The biolistic process was used to insert a mutated acetohydroxyacid synthase coding gene (Atahas) which confers tolerance to imazapyr. The transgene integration was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Out of ten lines tested for tolerance to 100 g ha−1 imazapyr, eight presented some tolerance. One line (named 59) revealed high herbicide tolerance and developmental growth comparable to non-transgenic plants. This line was further tested for tolerance to higher herbicide concentrations and presented tolerance to 400 g ha−1 imazapyr (fourfold the commercial recommended dose) with no visible symptoms. Line 59 will be the foundation for generating imidazolinone-tolerant cowpea varieties, which will facilitate cultivation of this crop in large areas.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Francisco Freire Filho (Embrapa Meio Norte, Brazil) for providing cowpea seeds and the financial support of FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos; Projeto Ref. 1364/08). C. Citadin was supported by a fellowship from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and A. Cruz was supported by a fellowship from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, PqEB W5 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.770-917, Brazil

    C. T. Citadin, A. R. R. Cruz & F. J. L. Aragão

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  1. C. T. Citadin
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  2. A. R. R. Cruz
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  3. F. J. L. Aragão
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Correspondence to F. J. L. Aragão.

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Communicated by L. Peña.

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Citadin, C.T., Cruz, A.R.R. & Aragão, F.J.L. Development of transgenic imazapyr-tolerant cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Plant Cell Rep 32, 537–543 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1385-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-013-1385-6

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