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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (1): 141-147.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2020.01.019

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Overexpression of K Transporter Gene trkH in Enhancing K Nutrition in Maize

DING Bao-Juan, AN Li-Jia, SU Qiao   

  1. School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023
  • Received:2019-06-05 Online:2020-01-05 Published:2020-02-21
  • Supported by:
    National Key Project for Cultivation of New Varieties of Genetically Modified Organisms,Ministry of Agriculture,P.R.China(2016ZX08003-005)

Abstract: Potassium is a necessary nutrient for plant growth and development, which is involved in various physiological and biochemical processes. Potassium deficiency seriously affects the quality and yield of maize. To improve K+ nutrition of maize by genetic modification is one of the effective approaches to solve this problem. The bacterial K+ transporter gene trkH was cloned from marine microbial metagenomic DNA, and its function was verified in yeast and tobacco. To further analyze the function of trkH gene in maize, the trkH gene was transferred into Hi-Ⅱ variety by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, and 21 independent baster resistant seedlings were obtained. By PCR, the trkH gene was successfully introduced into maize genome. By Bar strip test, the Bar gene was expressed at the protein level. Partial T0 transgenic plants were crossed with the maize backbone inbred line PH6WC and eight hybrid progeny were obtained. By semi-quantitative RT-PCR, trkH gene was expressed at the transcriptional level. Herbicide was sprayed at the three-leaf and one-heart stage, and L3, L5 and L7 lines with a ratio close to 1:1 were selected for PCR detection. Chi-square was performed with PCR data and the results indicate that the ratio is in accordance with Mendelian segregation law. K+ depletion experiment showed that overexpression of trkH gene improved K+ absorption of L3, L5 and L7 transgenic seedlings, which would lay the foundation of breeding new maize variety with high efficient potassium nutrition.

Key words: trkH, maize, genetic transformation, K+ uptake

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