Removal of antibiotic resistance genes from genetically modified (GM) crops
removes the risk of their transfer to the environment or gut microbes. Int
egration of foreign genes into plastid DNA enhances containment in crops th
at inherit their plastids maternally. Efficient plastid transformation requ
ires the aadA marker gene, which confers resistance to the antibiotics spec
tinomycin and streptomycin. We have exploited plastid DNA recombination and
cytoplasmic sorting to remove aadA from transplastomic tobacco plants. A 4
.9 kbp insert, composed of aadA flanked by bar and uidA genes, was integrat
ed into plastid DNA and selected to remove wild-type plastid genomes. The b
ar gene confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate despite being GC-ric
h. Excision of aadA and uidA mediated by two 174 bp direct repeats generate
d aadA-free T-0 transplastomic plants containing the bar gene. Removal of a
adA and bar by three 418 bp direct repeats allowed the isolation of marker-
free T-2 plants containing a plastid-located uidA reporter gene.