Heterologous expression of Arabidopsis phytochrome B in transgenic potato influences photosynthetic performance and tuber development
- Georg August Univ. Goettingen (Germany). Albrecht von Haller Inst. fuer Pflanzenwissenschaften
- Univ. of California/Dept. of Agriculture Plant Gene Expression Center, Albany, CA (United States)
Transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants expressing Arabidopsis phytochrome B were characterized morphologically and physiologically under white light in a greenhouse to explore their potential for improved photosynthesis and higher tuber yields. As expected, overexpression of functional phytochrome B caused pleiotropic effects such as semidwarfism, decreased apical dominance, a higher number of smaller but thicker leaves, and increased pigmentation. Because of increased numbers of chloroplasts in elongated palisade cells, photosynthesis per leaf area and in each individual plant increased. In addition, photosynthesis was less sensitive to photoinactivation under prolonged light stress. The beginning of senescence was not delayed, but deceleration of chlorophyll degradation extended the lifetime of photosynthetically active plants. Both the higher photosynthetic performance and the longer lifespan of the transgenic plants allowed greater biomass production, resulting in extended underground organs with increased tuber yields.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; DOA; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-87ER13742
- OSTI ID:
- 6281298
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiology; (Bethesda), Vol. 120:1; ISSN 0032-0889
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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