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Construction of an RNAi vector for knockdown of GM-ACS genes in the cotyledonary nodes of soybean
Liu, Chunming; Yang, Bowen; Ming, Yuetong; Liu, Jianfeng & Cheng, Yunqing
Abstract
Background: Ethylene plays an important role in the regulation of floral organ development in soybean, and
1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) is a rate-limiting enzyme for ethylene biosynthesis.
However, whether ACS also regulates floral organ differentiation in soybean remains unknown. To address
this, we constructed an RNAi vector to inhibit ACS expression in cotyledonary nodes. Linear DNA cassettes of
RNAi-ACS obtained by PCR were used to transform soybean cotyledonary nodes.
Results: In total, 131 of 139 transiently transformed plants acquired herbicide resistance and displayed GUS
activities in the new buds. In comparison to untransformed seedling controls, a greater number of flower buds
were differentiated at the cotyledonary node; GM-ACS1 mRNA expression levels and ethylene emission in the
transformed buds were reduced.
Conclusion: These results indicate that the cotyledonary node transient transformation system may be suitable
for stable transformation and that the inhibition of ACS expression may be an effective strategy for promoting
floral organ differentiation in soybean.
Keywords
ACC synthase; DNA cassettes; Ethylene; Floral organ development; Floral organ differentiation; Floral organ regulation; GUS; Herbicide resistance; RNAi-ACS; Soybean; Transient expression
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