ENHANCING ALFALFA WEEVIL RESISTANCE THROUGH PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES

OBJECTIVES: This research is proposed with a goal of promoting alfalfa weevil resistance andhopefully developing an alfalfa weevil resistant cultivar. The objectives are to induce alfalfa weevil resistant somaclonal variations by using plant tissue culture techniques; and genetically transform alfalfa by incorporating an insect resistant gene to alfalfa genome through Agrobacterium and/or biolistic means.

APPROACH: Explants will be co-cultivated with the Agrobacterium strains containing an insect resistant gene for 36 hours or longer, and then transfer to a selection medium containing kanamycin—an antibiotic. Only transformed tissues will survive and regenerate in the selection medium. GUS test will follow to evaluate the transformation. Genomic DNA will be isolated from tranformed tissues and regenerated shoots to confirm the transformation through the Southern blotting technique. Field test may also be conducted to further confirm the transformation and to evaluate the weevil resistance under field conditions if time permits.

PROGRESS: 1996/10 TO 1999/09

This project was not funded for research and has been removed from the plan of work for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. APPROACH: Explants will be co-cultivated with the Agrobacterium strains containing an insect resistant gene for 36 hours or longer, and then transfer to a selection medium containing kanamycin—an antibiotic. Only transformed tissues will survive and regenerate in the selection medium. GUS test will follow to evaluate the transformation. Genomic DNA will be isolated from tranformed tissues and regenerated shoots to confirm the transformation through the Southern blotting technique. Field test may also be conducted to further confirm the transformation and to evaluate the weevil resistance under field conditions if time permits.

PUBLICATIONS: 1996/10 TO 1999/09

No publications reported this period

PROJ NO: NCX-144-5-97-130-1 AGENCY: CSRS NC.X
PROJ TYPE: EVANS-ALLEN PROJ. STATUS: TERMINATED
START: 01 OCT 1996 TERM: 30 SEP 1999

INVESTIGATOR: Yang, G.; Kamp-Glass, M. H.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NATURAL RESOURCES & ENV DESIGN
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 27411