Evaluation of potential impacts on biodiversity of the salt-tolerant transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis harboring an RNA chaperonic RNA-Binding-Protein gene derived from common ice plant.

We recently reported that a genetic transformation of the RNA-Binding-Protein (McRBP), an RNA chaperone gene derived from common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), alleviated injury and loss of biomass production by salt stress in Eucalyptus camaldulensis in a semi-confined screen house trial. In this study, we assessed the potential environmental impact of the transgenic Eucalyptus in a manner complying with Japanese biosafety regulatory framework required for getting permission for experimental confined field trials. Two kinds of bioassays for the effects of allelopathic activity on the growth of other plants, i.

Environmental risk assessment of impacts of transgenic events highly expressing bacterial gene.

Under the Japanese biosafety regulatory framework for transgenic plants, data for assessing a transgenic plant's impact on biodiversity must be submitted in order to obtain approval for a confined field trial. We recently reported the development of four novel transgenic clones expressing the bacterial () gene, i.e.

Transcriptional enhancement of a bacterial gene by an terminator improves the glycine betaine production and salinity stress tolerance of trees.

Novel transgenic trees expressing the bacterial () gene by the Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and the () terminator was developed. To evaluate the transcription level and the metabolic products and abiotic stress tolerance of the transgenic trees, a six-month semi-confined screen house cultivation trial was conducted under a moderate-stringency salt-stress condition. The transcription level of the CaMV 35S promoter driven- was more than fourfold higher, and the content of glycine betaine, the metabolic product of codA, was twofold higher, with the terminator than with the () terminator.

Towards gender equality in health in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan gender inequality index shows that 70% loss in development is due to the limited participation of women in the workforce, low education and poor women's health outcomes. However, since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2002, gender inequalities in health have improved. This paper will review factors that led to these improvements.

A multi-year assessment of the environmental impact of transgenic Eucalyptus trees harboring a bacterial choline oxidase gene on biomass, precinct vegetation and the microbial community.

A 4-year field trial for the salt tolerant Eucalyptus globulus Labill. harboring the choline oxidase (codA) gene derived from the halobacterium Arthrobacter globiformis was conducted to assess the impact of transgenic versus non-transgenic trees on biomass production, the adjacent soil microbial communities and vegetation by monitoring growth parameters, seasonal changes in soil microbes and the allelopathic activity of leaves. Three independently-derived lines of transgenic E.

Assessment of the salt tolerance and environmental biosafety of Eucalyptus camaldulensis harboring a mangrin transgene.

Increasing soil salinization of arable land has a major impact on the global ecosystem. One approach to increase the usable global forest area is to develop transgenic trees with higher tolerance to conditions of salt stress. An allene oxide cyclase homolog, mangrin, contains a core protein domain that enhances the salt tolerance of its host.

The choline oxidase gene codA confers salt tolerance to transgenic Eucalyptus globulus in a semi-confined condition.

The performance of tree species is influenced by environmental factors and growth stages. To evaluate the practical performance of transgenic tree species, it is insufficient to grow small, young trees under controlled conditions, such as in a growth chamber. Three transgenic Eucalyptus globulus lines, carrying the choline oxidase gene, were investigated for their salt tolerance and expression of the transgene at the young plantlet stage in a special netted-house.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Eucalyptus globulus using explants with shoot apex with introduction of bacterial choline oxidase gene to enhance salt tolerance.

Eucalyptus globulus is one of the most economically important plantation hardwoods for paper making. However, its low transformation frequency has prevented genetic engineering of this species with useful genes. We found the hypocotyl section with a shoot apex has the highest regeneration ability among another hypocotyl sections, and have developed an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method using these materials.

Monoterpene engineering in a woody plant Eucalyptus camaldulensis using a limonene synthase cDNA.

Metabolic engineering aimed at monoterpene production has become an intensive research topic in recent years, although most studies have been limited to herbal plants including model plants such as Arabidopsis. The genus Eucalyptus includes commercially important woody plants in terms of essential oil production and the pulp industry. This study attempted to modify the production of monoterpenes, which are major components of Eucalyptus essential oil, by introducing two expression constructs containing Perilla frutescens limonene synthase (PFLS) cDNA, whose gene products were designed to be localized in either the plastid or cytosol, into Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

Elimination of marker genes from transgenic plants using MAT vector systems.

We have developed an efficient system (Multi-Auto-Transformation [MAT] vectors) for the removal of marker genes and to increase the regeneration frequency of transgenic crops without using antibiotic selection, reducing their possible environmental impact. The MAT vector system is designed to use the oncogenes (ipt, iaaM/H, rol) of Agrobacterium, which control the endogenous levels of plant hormones and the cell responses to plant growth regulators, to differentiate transgenic cells, and to select marker-free transgenic plants. The oncogenes are combined with the site-specific recombination system (R/RS).

Ectopic expression of a horseradish peroxidase enhances growth rate and increases oxidative stress resistance in hybrid aspen.

We previously demonstrated that overexpression of the horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) peroxidase prxC1a gene stimulated the growth rate of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants. Here, the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S::prxC1a construct was introduced into hybrid aspen (Populus sieboldii x Populus grandidentata). The growth rate of these transformed hybrid aspen plants was substantially increased under greenhouse conditions.