ISSN 2329-9797
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN 2329-9797 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Genetic modification of maize inbred line for resistance against Exserohilum turcicum via immature embryo culture and incorporation of balsam pear class I Chitinase Gene
Youyin Zhu1,3, Fenglan Zhao1,2 and Degang Zhao1,2,3*
1Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agro-Bioengineering, Guizhou University, South Campus, Huaxi, Guiyang City, 550025,Guizhou Province, People’s Republic of China.
2College of Life Science, Guizhou University, South Campus, Huaxi, Guiyang City, 550025, Guizhou Province, People's
Republic of China.
3Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Ago-Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University,Huaxi, Guiyang City, 550025,Guizhou Province, People' Republic of China.
Accepted 21 January, 2024
Abstract
Maize is one of the most important food crops worldwide and is subject to many diseases. Genetic engineering offers unique way to improve the current elite line via introduces single or multiple traits. In this report, we transformed an elite maize line, Jiao 51, with a balsam pear class I chitinase gene (Mcchit 1) driven by the maize ubiquitin-1 (ubi1) promoter. Conditions for callus induction from immature embryos were optimized using a Jiao 51 by culture on induction medium. The highest Type-I and Type-II callus induction efficiency of 91.33 and 89.10% were obtained on N6 media supplemented with 2.5 mg L-1 2, 4-D. Both types of calli grew fast. Type-I callus could easily change to Type-II callus. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was used to generate eight transgenic lines that expressed the chitinase transgene. Assessing the functionality of the Mcchit1 protein in the transgenic plants was conducted using an excised leaf challenge assay. The transgenic maize expressing a balsam pear class I chitinase gene exhibited enhanced tolerance to Exserohilum turcicum in greenhouse conditions. After 5 days inoculation, the number of lesions was significantly fewer, and the size of lesions was significantly smaller compared to the controls.
Key words: Maize (Zea mays. L.), chitinase gene, transformants, fungal disease tolerance, Northern corn leaf blight, Exserohilum turcicum.