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Consequences of transforming narrow leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius [L.]) with an ipt gene under control of a flower-specific promoter

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Abstract

Phenotypes of five transgenic lines of narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius [L] cv Merrit) stably transformed with the isopentenyl pyrophosphate transferase (ipt) gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens coupled to a flower-specific promoter (TP12) from Nicotiana tabacum [L.] are described. Expression of the transgene was detected in floral tissues and in shoot apical meristems on all orders of inflorescence. In each transgenic line there was significant axillary bud outgrowth at all nodes on the main stem with pronounced branch development from the more basal nodes in three of the lines. The lowest basal branches developed in a manner similar to the upper stem axillary branches on cv Merrit and bore fruits, which, in two lines, contained a significant yield of filled seeds at maturity. Senescence of the cotyledons was delayed in all lines with green cotyledons persisting beyond anthesis in one case. IPT expression increased cytokinin (CK) levels in flowers, meristem tissues and phloem exudates in a form specific manner, which was suggestive of localized flower and meristem production with significant long-distance re-distribution in phloem. The total number of fruits formed (pod set) on some transgenic lines was increased compared to cv Merrit. Grain size compared to cv Merrit was not significantly altered in transgenic lines.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the Grains Research and Development Corporation through the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) at the University of Western Australia. Technical assistance by Natalie Fletcher, Simone Chapple and Anna Klein is gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia

    Craig A. Atkins

  2. Biological Science, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada

    R. J. Neil Emery

  3. School Biological Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Penelope M. C. Smith

Authors
  1. Craig A. Atkins
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  2. R. J. Neil Emery
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  3. Penelope M. C. Smith
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Correspondence to Craig A. Atkins.

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Atkins, C.A., Emery, R.J.N. & Smith, P.M.C. Consequences of transforming narrow leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius [L.]) with an ipt gene under control of a flower-specific promoter. Transgenic Res 20, 1321–1332 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-011-9497-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-011-9497-7

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