Use of a visible reporter marker- myb-related gene in crop plants to minimize herbicide usage against weeds. (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aly, Radi; Lati, Ran; Bari, Vinay K.; Abu-Nassar, Jackline; Eizenberg, Hanan
• Is Part Of: Plant signaling & behavior. Volume 14:Number 4(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Weeds -- host plant tobacco -- anthocyanin VlmybA1-2 gene -- virus induced gene silencing; Plant ecophysiology -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction -- Periodicals; Plant cellular signal transduction; Plant ecophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 581
• DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2019.1581558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1559-2316

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Weeds, a main threat to agricultural productivity worldwide, are mostly controlled by herbicides. To minimize herbicide usage by targeting only weedy areas, we developed a new methodology for robust weed detection that relies on manipulating the crop plant's leaf hue, without affecting crop fitness. We generated transgenic tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi) lines overexpressing the anthocyanin pigment as a traceable marker that differentiates transgenes from the surrounding weeds at an early stage. Transformation with the anthocyanin VlmybA1-2 gene produced purple-colored leaves. Subsequent gene silencing with vector p TRV2:VlmybA1-2 significantly reduced anthocyanin pigments in tobacco leaves 40 days after agroinfiltration, with a concomitant reduction in VlmybA1-2 transcript levels. Purple hue faded gradually, and there were no fitness costs in terms of plant height or leaf number in the silenced vs. non-silenced tobacco transgenes. These results could lead to a new sustainable weed-control method that will alleviate weed-related ecological, agricultural and economic issues.