GENETIC-ENGINEERING OF RICE FOR RESISTANCE TO SHEATH BLIGHT

A 1.1 kb rice genomic DNA fragment, containing a chitinase gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, was cloned into the rice transfo rmation vector pGL2. After transformation of Indica rice protoplasts i n the presence of polyethyleneglycol, plants were regenerated, The pre sence of the chimeric chitinase gene in T0 and T1 transgenic rice plan ts was detected by Southern blot analysis, Western blot analysis of tr ansgenic plants and their progeny revealed the presence of two protein s with apparent molecular weights of 30 and 35 kDa that reacted with t he chitinase antibody. Progeny from the chitinase-positive plants were tested for their resistance to the sheath blight pathogen, Rhizoctoni a solani. The degree of resistance displayed by the transgenic plants to this pathogen correlated with the level of chitinase expression.