Traditional real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) requires a purified DNA sample for PCR amplification and detection. This requires PCR tests be conducted in clean laboratories, and limits its applications for field tests. This work developed a method that can carry out DNA purification, amplification and detection in a single PCR tube. The polypropylene PCR tube was first treated with chro...

Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), secreted by the pathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas, specifically activate expression of targeted genes in plants. Here, we designed synthetic TALEs that bind to the flanking regions of the TATA-box motif on the CaMV 35S promoter for the purpose of understanding the engineerable 'hot-spots' for increasing transgene expression. We demonstrated that tra...

Two bacterial antibiotic resistance genes, one coding for the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT I) from Tn903, and the other coding for the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase from Tn9 were used as plant selectable markers. Both genes were introduced into the Nicotiana tabacum genome in a new plant expression vector, using the direct gene transfer method. The vector pDH51, used in these experiment...

The detection and exact quantification of the presence of GMOs (genetically modified organisms, also named as living modified organisms, LMOs) grains has become very important in international commercial transactions, especially from countries producing both types of commodities, GMOs and GMO-free. This makes necessary to check every batch previous delivery to the recipient country. Several PCR...

The first intron of the shrunken-1 (Sh1) locus of maize was incorporated into constructs containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (CAT) coupled with the nopaline synthase 3' polyadenylation signal. Transcription was driven with the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) or the Sh1 promoter of maize. Transient gene expression was monitored following electroporation into...

Immature embryos as a choice tissue for genetic transformation of maize have a few limitations, such as genotype dependence, time-consuming and requiring a well-equipped greenhouse for access, at any time. In the present study, the split-seed explants were used for genetic transformation of maize, B73 line. The transformation of maize split-seed explants from the inbred line B73, for resistance...