One of the most important themes in agricultural science is the identification of virulence factors involved in plant disease. Here, we show that a single virulence factor, tengu-su inducer (TENGU), induces witches' broom and dwarfism and is a small secreted protein of the plant-pathogenic bacterium, phytoplasma. When tengu was expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants, these plants showed symp...

Plant viruses constitute one of the main problems of the agricultural production worldwide (Kang et al., 2005). To date, there are not therapeutical measures available for the control of plant-virus diseases in the field and the main control strategy used in practice is based on prevention measures. Genetic resistance is by far the most effective way to control plant viruses. However, ‘traditio...

The soil-borne bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is called the natural genetic engineer, because it has the capacity to transfer and integrate a part of its tumour inducing (Ti) plasmid DNA (the transfer DNA or T-DNA) into the plant genome. Through exploring this natural system, plant genetic engineers place their gene of interest in the engineered Ti plasmid and deliver the gene of interest...

Plant biomass enhancement using transgenesis in model as well as in crop plants both under optimal and stress controlled (greenhouse or growth chamber) and field conditions is observed. It was documented that genetic engineering approaches allow reaching up to two-fold increase of biomass in optimal conditions. Both transgenic and initial plants reduce biomass production under stress. It was de...

Water scarcity is the major limiting factor for oasis-desert agricultural production of cotton. It necessary to improve cotton drought tolerance and minimize drought-related crop losses, transgenic approach efficient improvement. In order evaluate value ScALDH21 (G. hirsutum L.), it was tested in main region south Xinjiang, an environment extreme around desert. Transgenic cotton, overexpressing...

One of the least understood areas in the environmental risk assessment of genetically modified crops is their impact on soil and plant-associated microbial communities. In a review of literature, Dunfield and Germida (2004) found that transgenic plants and plant litter can influence the composition of the plant-associated microbial communities. Their review also points to such effects having be...

BACKGROUND Biomass recalcitrance and plant lodging are two complex traits that tightly associate with plant cell wall structure and features. Although genetic modification of plant cell walls can potentially reduce recalcitrance for enhancing biomass saccharification, it remains a challenge to maintain a normal growth with enhanced biomass yield and lodging resistance in transgenic plants. Sucr...

The TIFY family is a novel plant-specific protein family, and is characterized by a conserved TIFY motif (TIFF/YXG). Our previous studies indicated the potential roles of TIFY10/11 proteins in plant responses to alkaline stress. In the current study, we focused on the regulatory roles and possible physiological and molecular basis of the TIFY10 proteins in plant responses to alkaline stress. We...

The morphology and photosynthetic enzyme activity were studied in maize phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase transgenic rice and non-transgenic rice. The results showed that compared with non-transgenic rice, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase transgenic rice was taller and had a stronger stalk, wider leaves, and more exuberant root system, with increased photosynthetic enzyme activity and improved yie...

Survival and mortality of plants in response to severe drought may be related to carbon starvation, but little is known about how plasma membrane intrinsic proteins may help alleviate the drought-induced damage. Here, we determined the roles of plasmalemma aquaporin gene in improving plant water status, maintaining carbon accumulation, and thereby enhancing drought tolerance. Seven StPIP1 trans...