Grantee Research Project Results

2003 Progress Report: Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops

EPA Grant Number: R829479C013
Subproject: this is subproject number 013 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829479
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems
Center Director: Reckhow, David A.
Title: Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops
Investigators: Weeks, Donald P.
Institution: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2004 (Extended to December 31, 2005)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003
RFA: The Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc., Environmental Research and Technology Transfer Program (2001) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Targeted Research , Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) characterize the three components of dicamba O-demethylase and the genes that encode them; (2) genetically engineer the oxygenase DIC gene for high-level expression in plants; and (3) test transgenic plants carrying the modified oxygenase DIC gene for herbicide resistance.

Progress Summary:

We have made strong progress in each of our three prime objectives. We have conducted extensive analyses of the reductase, ferredoxin, and oxygenase components of dicamba O-demethylase. The oxygenase gene has been modified by the addition of a strong, constitutive, plant promoter region, as well as a plant gene termination region. The genetically engineered gene has been placed in both tobacco and tomato plants. Spraying of the transgenic plants has demonstrated very high levels of resistance to treatment with the herbicide dicamba.

Future Activities:

We will attempt to crystallize the oxygenase DIC molecule and determine its detailed physical structure. Likewise, we will move forward in placing the dicamba-resistant gene into new varieties of crop and forest plants.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

dicamba, resistance, resistant, dicamba O-demethylase, oxygenase DIC, reductase, ferredoxin, oxygenase, transgenic, herbicide, genetic engineering., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Remediation, Environmental Chemistry, Technology, Hazardous Waste, Biochemistry, Hazardous, hazardous waste treatment, chemical plants, microbial degradation, transgenic plants, intrinsic security, reaction system, computational fluid dynamics, biotechnology, phytoremediation

Relevant Websites:

http://www.cpbr.org Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2004 Progress Report

2005

Final Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829479    Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829479C001 Plant Genes and Agrobacterium T-DNA Integration
R829479C002 Designing Promoters for Precision Targeting of Gene Expression
R829479C003 aka R829479C011 Biological Effects of Epoxy Fatty Acids
R829479C004 Negative Sense Viral Vectors for Improved Expression of Foreign Genes in Insects and Plants
R829479C005 Development of Novel Plastics From Agricultural Oils
R829479C006 Conversion of Paper Sludge to Ethanol
R829479C007 Enhanced Production of Biodegradable Plastics in Plants
R829479C008 Engineering Design of Stable Immobilized Enzymes for the Hydrolysis and Transesterification of Triglycerides
R829479C009 Discovery and Evaluation of SNP Variation in Resistance-Gene Analogs and Other Candidate Genes in Cotton
R829479C010 Woody Biomass Crops for Bioremediating Hydrocarbons and Metals
R829479C011 Biological Effects of Epoxy Fatty Acids
R829479C012 High Strength Degradable Plastics From Starch and Poly(lactic acid)
R829479C013 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops
R829479C014 Identification of Receptors of Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxins in Midguts of the European Corn Borer
R829479C015 Coordinated Expression of Multiple Anti-Pest Proteins
R829479C016 A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass
R829479C017 Molecular Improvement of an Environmentally Friendly Turfgrass
R829479C018 Woody Biomass Crops for Bioremediating Hydrocarbons and Metals. II.
R829479C019 Transgenic Plants for Bioremediation of Atrazine and Related Herbicides
R829479C020 Root Exudate Biostimulation for Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Phytoremediation
R829479C021 Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Contamination by Metallohistins, a New Class of Plant Metal-Binding Proteins
R829479C022 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Energy and Biomass Crops
R829479C023 A Novel Fermentation Process for Butyric Acid and Butanol Production from Plant Biomass
R829479C024 Development of Vectors for the Stoichiometric Accumulation of Multiple Proteins in Transgenic Crops
R829479C025 Chemical Induction of Disease Resistance in Trees
R829479C026 Development of Herbicide-Tolerant Hardwoods
R829479C027 Environmentally Superior Soybean Genome Development
R829479C028 Development of Efficient Methods for the Genetic Transformation of Willow and Cottonwood for Increased Remediation of Pollutants
R829479C029 Development of Tightly Regulated Ecdysone Receptor-Based Gene Switches for Use in Agriculture
R829479C030 Engineered Plant Virus Proteins for Biotechnology