Modification of starch metabolism in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana increases plant biomass and triples oilseed production. Issue 3 (19th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Fushan; Zhao, Qianru; Mano, Noel; Ahmed, Zaheer; Nitschke, Felix; Cai, Yinqqi; Chapman, Kent D.; Steup, Martin; Tetlow, Ian J.; Emes, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: Plant biotechnology journal. Volume 14:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 976
• Page End: 985
• Publication Date: 2015-08-19
• Subjects: starch -- seed oil -- biomass -- amylopectin -- starch branching enzymes; Plant biotechnology -- Periodicals; Plant genetic engineering -- Periodicals; 630.272
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-7644

Abstract

Summary: We have identified a novel means to achieve substantially increased vegetative biomass and oilseed production in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana . Endogenous isoforms of starch branching enzyme (SBE) were substituted by either one of the endosperm‐expressed maize ( Zea mays L.) branching isozymes, Zm SBEI or Zm SBEIIb. Transformants were compared with the starch‐free background and with the wild‐type plants. Each of the maize‐derived SBEs restored starch biosynthesis but both morphology and structure of starch particles were altered. Altered starch metabolism in the transformants is associated with enhanced biomass formation and more‐than‐trebled oilseed production while maintaining seed oil quality. Enhanced oilseed production is primarily due to an increased number of siliques per plant whereas oil content and seed number per silique are essentially unchanged or even modestly decreased. Introduction of cereal starch branching isozymes into oilseed plants represents a potentially useful strategy to increase biomass and oilseed production in related crops and manipulate the structure and properties of leaf starch.