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Plasmid pCAMBIA2201-pta, containing the selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase gene (npt II), Pinellia ternata agglutinin (PTA) gene and β-glucuronidase gene, were transformed into leaf discs of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. It was confirmed by GUS (β-glucuronidase) and PCR analysis that the PTA gene had been successfully inserted into the plant genome. Hemagglutination assay was carried out and the expression of PTA gene in transgenic plants in vitro and the aphid-resistance assay result showed that the inhibition rates of the transformed plants were improved than the control. T1 progenies generated through the cuttage breeding from T0 generation had preserved the aphid-resistance and the inhibition rates of T1 generation had no significant difference with T0 generation (P > 0.05). The results suggest that PTA gene can improve aphid resistance of chrysanthemum and its aphid resistance can be generated to T1 generation stably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a relatively important abiotic stress of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). Limited information is available with regard to molecular management strategies for drought. MiR393a is already known to play role in the tolerance of plants to abiotic stresses. Here, creeping bentgrass plants overexpressing OsmiR393a showed improved drought tolerance, as evidenced by maintenance of turgor and increased growth. Additional analyses revealed that the transgenic plants generally displayed lower transpiration rate, higher proline content and chlorophyll content when subjected to drought stress. These results suggest OsmiR393a may improve drought tolerance of creeping bentgrass by regulating 2, 4- D signalling and other pathways in response to the stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]