TRANSFORMATION WITH A GENE FOR CHOLINE OXIDASE ENHANCES THE COLD TOLERANCE OF ARABIDOPSIS DURING GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH

We transformed Arabidopsis thaliana with the codA gene from Arthrobact er globiformis. This gene encodes choline oxidase, the enzyme that con verts choline to glycinebetaine, The presence of choline oxidase and g lycinebetaine in seeds of transformed lines was confirmed by Western b lotting and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, respectivel y. The transformation with the codA gene significantly enhanced the to lerance of seeds to low temperatures, such as 0 degrees C, during imbi bition, The transformation accelerated the germination and grow-th of seedlings at 10 and 15 degrees C, It appears that the presence of glyc inebetaine in transformed plants enhances their ability to tolerate lo w-temperature stress during the imbibition and germination of seeds an d the growth of seedlings.