Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-21000-142-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Sep 19, 2013
End Date: Aug 12, 2018
Objective:
Objective 1: Determine if altering polyamine synthesis can enhance vegetative growth, yield, or nutrient content in at least two major crops, maize and rice, using transgenes. [NP 301, C3, PS 3A]
Objective 2: Pyramid transgenes that affect polyamine accumulation and growth regulator activity, for higher nutrient content and longer shelf life, by intercrossing superior transgenic tomatoes. [NP 301, C3, PS 3A]
Objective 3: Quantify nutrient content and longevity parameters for selected products from Objectives 1 and 2. Use metabolic profiling and transcript profiling to identify connections between metabolic genes and specific nutrients. [NP 301, C3, PS 3A]
Approach:
Use transgenic technology to develop maize and rice lines in which expression of yeast S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is introduced in a seed-specific manner for the accumulation of higher polyamines, spermidine and spermine. Test to see if these transgenic lines are drought tolerant with higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and with improved grain nutrients and yield. Intercross spermidine and spermine accumulating tomato lines with ethylene deficient and methyl jasmonate (JAS) deficient tomato lines and test the pyramided transgenic lines for fruit yield, shelf life, and cellular metabolite content, including important nutrients, using metabolomics, specific gene indicators, and physiological parameters.
