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Seasonal and tissue-specific transgene expression and resveratrol-3-glucoside (piceid) accumulation in genetically modified white poplars carrying the grapevine StSy gene

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Abstract

Unexpected responses may occur in trees at specific stages after extensive cultivation time or they may be induced by specific environmental signals. The present work reports on a greenhouse trial carried out with transgenic white poplars (Populus alba L. cv. ‘Villafranca’) expressing the StSy gene from Vitis vinifera L., responsible for resveratrol biosynthesis. Notwithstanding the presence of the constitutive 35SCaMV promoter, significant fluctuations in the amount of the StSy transcript were observed in relation to season, tissue/organ type and position. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection revealed that the trans-isomer of resveratrol-3-glucoside (trans-piceid) accumulated in highly variable concentrations in leaves while reaching more stable values in stems and roots. Substantial amounts were observed in leaves (up to 717 mg kg−1 fresh weight), stems (up to 226 mg kg−1 fresh weight) and roots (up to 330 mg kg−1 fresh weight) while the cis-isomer was present only in leaves (up to 321 mg kg−1 fresh weight).

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Abbreviations

CaMV:

Cauliflower mosaic virus

GM:

Genetically modified

HPLC-DAD:

High performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection

Nos-P:

Nopaline synthase promoter

nptII :

Gene encoding neomycine phosphotransferase

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

StSy :

Gene encoding stylbene synthase

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from Regione Lombardia (Divisione Generale Agricoltura). M. B. and S. Z. received a fellowship from Regione Lombardia. The authors would like to thank Massimo Confalonieri for assistance with statistical analyses and Domenico Masuero for technical assistance in the chemical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    A. Balestrazzi, M. Bonadei & D. Carbonera

  2. CRA-Centro di Ricerca per l’Olivicoltura e l’Industria Olearia (CRA-OLI), C/da Li Rocchi Vermicelli, 87036, Rende, Cosenza, Italy

    S. Zelasco

  3. CRA-Unità di Ricerca per la Produzione Legnosa fuori Foresta, via di Frassineto 35, 15033, Casale Monferrato, AL, Italy

    A. Giorcelli, M. Gennaro & P. Calligari

  4. IASMA-Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, via Mach 1, 38010, San Michele all’Adige, TN, Italy

    F. Mattivi

  5. CETAS, Università di Milano, via Emilia, 26838, Tavazzano, LO, Italy

    E. Quattrini

Authors
  1. A. Balestrazzi
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  2. M. Bonadei
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  3. S. Zelasco
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  4. A. Giorcelli
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  5. M. Gennaro
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  6. P. Calligari
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  7. F. Mattivi
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  8. E. Quattrini
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  9. D. Carbonera
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Correspondence to D. Carbonera.

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Balestrazzi, A., Bonadei, M., Zelasco, S. et al. Seasonal and tissue-specific transgene expression and resveratrol-3-glucoside (piceid) accumulation in genetically modified white poplars carrying the grapevine StSy gene. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 105, 1–8 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-010-9830-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-010-9830-5

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