Research

Improvement of Transformation Systems

Improvement of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) transformation is the continuous effort of the Plant Transformation Core. This research area includes the improvement of T-DNA integration efficiency and quality, which will make production of transgenic lines more cost-effective and further satisfy the need of genome-wide functional analysis of maize and soybean genes.

Efficient RNAi for Gene Regulation

Efficient gene regulation in a complex genome background such as the soybean represents a new challenge in transgene technology. RNAi technology (Fire et al., 1998, Nature 391: 806-811; Wesley et al., 2001, Plant J 27:581-590) has been shown to be a powerful tool to accomplish this goal. The current research focus is on design and implementation of efficient RNAi in soybeans. Researchers are now exploring several strategies in improving the efficacy of RNAi in this crop. The experience and lessons learned from down-regulation of several important soybean genes should be applicable for regulation of other genes in soybean. In addition, transgenic soybean lines developed in these studies can be used as breeding materials for soybean trait improvement.

Functional Genomics

Reverse genetics tools such as transposon mutagenesis have been demonstrated to have a great utility in knocking-out genes in the plant genome. Researchers are collaborating with several other institutions on the transposon mutagenesis project. The goal of this project is to tag a large number of soybean genes with special interest to seed traits. Tagged genes will be mapped to the soybean physical map. Mutant soybean lines and genes whose functions are identified in this study will be a good resource for the soybean research community