Biosafety results of transgenic rice plants expressing rice stripe virus - coat protein gene

摘要

The rice stripe virus - coat protein (RSV-CP) gene was introduced into a japonica rice variety (Kinuhikari) by electroporation of protoplasts. The regenerated transgenic rice plants (primary transformants: RO) expressing the CP at high levels (0.5 percent of soluble proteins) exhibited a significant level of resistance to viral infection. The first selfing progenies (R1 generation) expressing the CP also showed virus resistance. We conducted biosafety tests of the transgenic rice plants expressingRSV-CP according to the guidelines enacted by the Japanese government which consisted of four conditions. More than 20 plant characteristics were assessed over three years under the conditions of: (1) a contained greenhouse; (2) a non-contained greenhouse; and (3) an isolated small scale field. The resultant data led us to conclude that there were no significant differences in morphological and. biochemical traits between the transgenic rice plants and non-transgenic plants except for a somaclonal variation observed among the transformants.