Selecting and Breeding of Transgenic Clones of Populus euramericana‘MR3’by Insertion of Multiple Genes
- Received Date: 2013-08-27
Abstract: Populus euramericana‘MR3’is a transgenic clone transformed with five foreign genes (JERF36, SacB, vgb, and BtCry3A+ OC-1) via genetic engineering approach using Populus ×euramericana‘Guariento’as the receptor. This variety inherits the features of fast-growing and broad adaptation that the receptor possessed and further enhances the tolerance to various stresses including drought, salt, flooding, and insects feeding. The experiments in greenhouse for stress tolerance assays indicated that the expression of foreign genes led to improved tolerance to drought, salt, flooding, and insects (mainly Plagiodera versicolora). Field trial in an area with salinized soil in Shandong Province showed a 7.77% increase in stem volume than that of the control clones of 5-year-old saplings. Another field trial at Linghai in Liaoning Province indicated a 15.41% increase in stem volume than that of the control clones of 2-year-old. In the experiments in greenhouse, laboratory, and field, the P. euramericana‘MR3’showed enhanced characteristics such as fast-growing, higher tolerance to drought, salt, insects, and flooding stress, and is expected to be one of the ideal new poplar varieties for wood industry and ecosystem conservation in North China.