Regulation of Arabidopsis photoreceptor CRY2 by two distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases.

Cryptochromes (CRYs) are photoreceptors or components of the molecular clock in various evolutionary lineages, and they are commonly regulated by polyubiquitination and proteolysis. Multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases regulate CRYs in animal models, and previous genetics study also suggest existence of multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases for plant CRYs. However, only one E3 ligase, Cul4, has been reported for plant CRYs so far.

The SUPPRESSOR of MAX2 1 (SMAX1)-Like SMXL6, SMXL7 and SMXL8 Act as Negative Regulators in Response to Drought Stress in Arabidopsis.

Drought represents a major threat to crop growth and yields. Strigolactones (SLs) contribute to regulating shoot branching by targeting the SUPPRESSOR OF MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2 (MAX2)-LIKE6 (SMXL6), SMXL7 and SMXL8 for degradation in a MAX2-dependent manner in Arabidopsis. Although SLs are implicated in plant drought response, the functions of the SMXL6, 7 and 8 in the SL-regulated plant response to drought stress have remained unclear.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated sorghum transformation using a mannose selection system.

A dual-marker plasmid containing the selectable marker gene, manA, and the reporter gene, sgfp, was used to transform immature sorghum embryos by employing an Agrobacterium-mediated system. Both genes were under the control of the ubi1 promoter in a binary vector pPZP201. The Escherichia coli phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) gene, pmi, was used as the selectable marker gene and mannose was used as the selective agent.

Efficient genetic transformation of Sorghum using a visual screening marker.

To transform grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) with a visual reporter gene (gfp) and a target gene (tlp), three genotypes (two inbreds, Tx 430 and C401, and a commercial hybrid, Pioneer 8505) were used. We obtained a total of 1011 fertile transgenic plants from 61 independent callus lines, which were produced from 2463 zygotic immature embryos via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

QTL analysis of lodging resistance and related traits in Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.).

Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is the most widely cultivated annual forage grass in Japan. Lodging damage reduces both harvested yield and forage quality.

Construction of a high-density linkage map of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) using restriction fragment length polymorphism, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and telomeric repeat associated sequence markers.

To construct a high-density molecular linkage map of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam), we used a two-way pseudo-testcross F1 population consisting of 82 individuals to analyze three types of markers: restriction fragment length polymorphism markers, which we detected by using genomic probes from Italian ryegrass as well as heterologous anchor probes from other species belonging to the Poaceae family, amplified fragment length polymorphism markers, which we detected by using PstI/MseI primer combinations, and telomeric repeat associated sequence markers. Of the restriction fragment length polymorphism probes that we generated from a PstI genomic library, 74% (239 of 323) of randomly selected probes detected hybridization patterns consistent with single-copy or low-copy genetic locus status in the screening. The 385 (mostly restriction fragment length polymorphism) markers that we selected from the 1226 original markers were grouped into seven linkage groups.

Linkage of AFLP markers to lhd 1, a recessive heterochronic gene in Italian ryegrass.

A mutant, leafy head I (lhd 1), was discovered in Japan from the progeny of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) 'Nioudachi' and local line 'Aichikei #3'. Compared with normal plants, the mutant plant is a dwarf with a larger number of intenodes per stem, shorter internodes, and smaller leaves.