High-protein, antibiotic and herbicide resistant wheat SUTAP78

The endosperm-specific expression of the amino acid permease VfAAp1 in SUTAP78 wheat leads to increased amino acid uptake into the endosperm that might be used in the amino acid biosynthesis process. Therefore, an increase in the protein content in the wheat grains is expected. Additionally, wheat transformed with VfAAp1 is likely to exhibit early flowering.

Cultivar/ Breeding line: Certo

pUC18/SUTAP and pJFBar

By transformation of wheat with the vector pUC18/SUTAP the amino acid permease VfAAP1 was introduced into the wheat genome. Since VfAAP1 is put under the control of the HvSUT1 promoter it is specifically expressed within the transfer cells of the endosperm.

As a modification to the listed genetic element 'VfAAP1', here, the endogeneous terminator of VfAAP1 is joined to the coding sequence. VfAAP1 is exclusively expressed within the endosperm during the phase of increased protein biosynthesis in wheat grains. This is meant to optimize the amino acid supply for increased levels of protein biosynthesis.

Aditionally the integration of the beta lactamase gene from pUC19 was observed. This gene mediates resistance to bacteria towards ampicillin and was used as a selection marker prior to transformation of wheat plants.

Simultaneously, the vector pJFBar was co-transformed to mediate resistance towards phospinotricine (PPT, Glufosinat) to be used as a selective marker system.