Publications (3) View all
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Article: Isolation and Functional Characterization of a SERK Gene from Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)
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ABSTRACT: It is well accepted that somatic embryogenesis serves a primary role in plant regeneration. However, it is also a model system to explore the regulatory and morphogenetic events in the life of a plant. To date, a suite of genes that serve important roles in somatic embryogenesis have been isolated and identified. In the present study, a novel gene designated as GmSERK1 was isolated from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). Sequence and structural analysis determined that the GmSERK1 protein, which encodes 624 amino acids, belongs to the somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) gene family. GmSERK1 shared all the characteristic domains of the SERK family, including five leucine-rich repeats, one proline-rich region motif, transmembrane domain, and kinase domains. DNA gel blot analysis indicated that a single copy of the GmSERK1 gene resides in the soybean genome. The GmSERK1 tissue-specific and induced expression patterns were explored using quantitative real-time PCR. Dissimilar expression levels in various tissues under different treatments were found. In addition, transient expression experiments in onion epidermal cells indicated that the GmSERK1 protein was located on the plasma membrane. The results from this study suggested that GmSERK1, a member of the SERK gene family, exhibits a broader role in various aspects of plant development and function, in addition to its basic functions in somatic embryogenesis. KeywordsPhylogenetic analysis–Quantitative real-time PCR–Somatic embryogenesis–Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase–Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 04/2012; 29(2):334-344. · 2.45 Impact Factor -
Article: Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Chinese soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)—impacts of mannitol, abscisic acid, and explant age
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ABSTRACT: From a preliminary experiment on 98 Chinese soybean varieties, 12 varieties with somatic embryogenesis frequency ranging from 0.0% to 85.7% were selected for further study in order to enhance the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. The effects of different mannitol concentrations, abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations, and embryo explant ages (sizes) were investigated. Significant differences in somatic embryogenesis were found among the 12 soybean varieties, with initiation frequencies varying from 22.1% to 89.0% under suitable mannitol concentration, and with N25281, N25263, and N06499 having the highest somatic embryogenic capacity. The results showed that all three factors were relevant for raising rates of callus initiation and somatic embryogenesis, but with differential responses among the genotypes. The treatment of 3.0% (w/v) mannitol, 5mg l−1 ABA, and a 4- to 5-mm-sized explant was found to be optimal for somatic embryogenesis, generating the highest explant-based regeneration rate at 83.0%. The greatest average number of plantlets regenerated per explant (1.35) was observed in N25281. The above results provide a basis for efficient regeneration of soybean and are informative for the development of genetic transformation systems in Chinese soybean germplasm.In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 04/2012; 45(2):180-188. · 1.50 Impact Factor -
Article: Mapping QTLs for tissue culture response in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.).
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ABSTRACT: Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control the tissue culture response in soybean were detected by using 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two varieties: Kefeng No.1 and Nannong 1138-2. The molecular map consisting of 834 molecular markers using this population covered space 2307.83 cM of the genome throughout 24 linkage groups. The performance of tissue culture in soybean was evaluated by two indices: callus induction frequency (CIF) and somatic embryos initiation frequency (SEIF). They were expressed as the number of explants producing callus/ the number of total explants and the number of explants producing somatic embryos/ the number of total explants, respectively. The RIL lines showed continuous segregation for both indices. With the composite interval mapping (CIM) described in Windows QTL Cartographer Version 2.5, three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for the frequency of callus induction, on chromosomes B2 and D2, accounting for phenotypic variation from 5.84% to 16.60%; four QTLs on chromosome G were detected for the frequency of somatic embryos initiation and explained the phenotypic variation from 7.79% to 14.16%. The information of new QTLs identified in the present study will contribute to genetic improvement of regeneration traits with marker-assisted selection (MAS) in soybean.Molecules and Cells 09/2011; 32(4):337-42. · 2.18 Impact Factor
