Transformation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with senescence-inhibiting genes for yield improvement
Eiselen, KAAD, DAAD
From 01/2003 to 07/2007Staff: Deepak Pant
The aim of the project is to improve the yield of commercially important German wheat cultivars by inhibition of leaf senescence. Two genes with an effect on leaf senescence in plants will be used: ipt from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, coding for isopentenyltransferase, which leads to cytokinin biosynthesis, and knotted-1, a homeobox gene from Zea mays. Both genes will be expressed under the control of the S40-promoter from barley. Promoter analysis in wheat will be performed using a S40-gusA fusion. For transformation, microprojectile bombardment of scutella or scutellum-derived embryogenic callus will be used. This project is in collaboration with the group of Prof. Krupinska, Uni Kiel, and is supported by the KAAD (Daniel Souza), DAAD (Deepak Pant) and the Eiselen-Stiftung.