Growth, yield and shelf-life of isopentenyltransferase (ipt)-gene transformed broccoli.

[[abstract]]Loss of chlorophyll leading to floret yellowing limits the post-harvest lifespan of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck). Cytokinins are known to delay floral yellowing of plants. A transgene construct pSG766A, which results in the expression of isopentenyltransferase (ipt), the key enzyme for cytokinin synthesis, has been developed in broccoli. Expression of the ipt transgene is triggered by the senescence-associated gene promoter (SAG-13). Three selfed T5 lines of ipt transformed broccoli (lines 101, 102 and 103) have been obtained through selection for single copy insertion, acceptable horticultural traits and transgene ipt activity. These three transgenic inbred lines were evaluated in the field during 2004-2007 to determine their growth, yield and shelf-life after harvest, relative to a non-transgenic inbred line (104) and the parental variety Green King. For most of the vegetative growth parameters measured, year-to-year variability exceeded line-to-line variability. Inbreeding had little impact on the appearance or yield potential of the broccoli lines. Head yields of the transgenic inbred lines 102 and 103 were comparable to the parental variety Green King, but were significantly higher than the non-transgenic inbred line 104, as lines 102 and 103 produced more plants with heavier flower heads. Cytokinin content in the form of isopentenyladenosine was relatively higher in the transgenic lines than in the two non-transgenic controls. When flower heads were stored at 25 ± 2°C, the period required to cause 50% floret yellowing was 7.5 and 8.5 d for the transgenic lines 102 and 103, respectively, compared with 5.6 d for the non-transgenic line 104, and 5.1 d for the parental variety Green King. This study showed that the ipt-transformed inbred lines of broccoli combined acceptable appearance and yields with enhanced shelf-life.Key words: Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck, transgenic broccoli, isopentenyltransferase gene, genetic characterization, shelf-lif