Poster: Genomics Resources
Abs #
959: Fast neutron deletion mutagenesis of medicago truncatula for functional genomics studies of legume plants
|
|
Presenter: |
Chen, Rujin , rchen@noble.org |
Authors | Chen, Rujin (A) Li, Guangming (A) Versaw, Wayne (A) Shin, Hwo-Soo (A) | | Affiliations: |
(A): Samuel Robert Noble Foundation
|
|
|
Medicago truncatula, a close relative of the agronomically important forage plant alfalfa is a diploid model legume with small genome size, short life cycle and reasonable transformation systems.
Several projects involving transposon tagging, and EMS and gamma ray mutagenesis have been carried out for functional genomics studies in M. truncatula by other research groups. To complement the current efforts, we are developing a fast-neutron radiation mutagenesis projects in M. truncatula for the purpose of developing i) a reverse genetic system for isolating mutations in genes of known sequence and ii) a forward genetic system for screening mutants and effective cloning of the underlying genes.
Fast neutron radiation has been demonstrated to cause chromosomal deletions in rice
and Arabidopsis. Due to its random and high efficient mutagenesis, fast neutron radiation has been successfully used as a mutagen in traditional genetics studies in plants. One advantage of fast neutron mutagenesis over insertional mutagenesis is that the steps involving tissue culture and plant transformation needed for insertional mutagenesis is not required.
We have tested dosage effects of fast neutron radiation on seed germination and viability both on plates and in soil. Currently, we are growing approximately 10,000 M2 plants. Among these plants, about 2.3% displayed various visible phenotypes including variations in leaf colors and numbers. The mutation rate is comparable with data obtained from rice and Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the various chimerical phenotypes observed suggested that mutations are random. We are planning to generate approximately 100,000 M2 plants in the next 2 to 3 years for functional genomics studies in model legume plants.
