ISHS Acta Horticulturae 567: IV International Strawberry Symposium
PRODUCTION OF HERBICIDE TOLERANT STRAWBERRY THROUGH GENETIC ENGINEERING |
| Authors: | A. Morgan, C.M. Baker, J.S.F Chu, K. Lee, B.A. Crandall, L. Jose |
| Keywords: | Fragaria x ananassa, glyphosate, vegetative tolerance, reproductive tolerance, molecular analysis. |
| Abstract:
We are developing strawberry varieties tolerant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in the Roundup® herbicides, in order to provide a weed control alternative to MeBr soil fumigation. The CP4.EPSP synthase gene, which confers resistance to glyphoste, was introduced into the University of California cultivar Camarosa, through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The 73 independent transformants were sprayed in the nursery with commercial levels of Roundup Ultra®, and showed a range of tolerances to the herbicide ranging from complete tolerance to death. RNA analysis of all transformants showed a range of expression levels of the CP4.EPSPS gene, that correlated well with phenotype. Thirty lines were selected based on their tolerance to glyphosate. Southern analysis of these lines showed 28 had a single copy of the introduced CP4.EPSPS gene, while 2 had two copies. Four of the lines showed some fragments from the plasmid backbone and were discarded from the program. The remaining lines have been planted in a replicated field trial in Watsonville, CA. Assessment of fruit characteristics and yileld data of glyphosate- and water-sprayed plots is underway. Initial observations show that a number of the transformed, glyphosate-sprayed lines are producing good quality fruit typical of Camarosa. Production of herbicide tolerant lines of Whitney and Colima, varieties developed by VPP Corporation, is in progress. | |
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