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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Chitosanase May Enhance Anti-Fungal Defense Responses In Transgenic Tobacco, Bill L. Hendrix
Chitosanase May Enhance Anti-Fungal Defense Responses In Transgenic Tobacco, Bill L. Hendrix
Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal
Fungicides are expensive, dangerous, and can be harmful to the environment, but they are often necessary for profitable farming operations. New technologies may soon allow farmers to replace these chemicals with genetically engineered plants producing antifungal enzymes that degrade fungal cell walls. To explore this option, a Paenbacillus chitosanase gene was cloned, sequenced, and modified for plant expression. The modified gene was delivered to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L cv. Xanthine) leaf disks via Agrobacterium tumenfaciens-mediated transformation. The putative GMOs were tested for transgene integration, transcription, and translation. Confirmed transformants were then screened for enhanced responses to a Rhizoctonia solani cell …
The Role Of Natural Calcium Oxalate Crystals In Plant Defense Against Chewing Insects, Sarah J. Doege
The Role Of Natural Calcium Oxalate Crystals In Plant Defense Against Chewing Insects, Sarah J. Doege
Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal
Calcium oxalate is the most abundant insoluble mineral found in plants and it is common among many plant families. Calcium oxalate crystals in plants can appear as irregular rectangles, spiked balls, or needles. The formidable appearance of these crystals has lead to speculation that they might serve as a form of pest control by deterring chewing insects. We utilized mutant plant lines to assess the effects of plant calcium oxalate crystals on the survival and feeding habits of chewing insects. We have taken advantage of calcium oxalate-deficient (cod) mutants of the barrel medic, Medicago truncatula Calcium oxalate crystals accumulate in …