R. Gutierrez-campos et al., Pleiotropic effects in transgenic tobacco plants expressing the oryzacystatin I gene, HORTSCIENCE, 36(1), 2001, pp. 118-119
A study was undertaken to evaluate possible phenotypic alterations in trans
genic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L, cv, Xanthi) plants expressing the oryza
cystatin I gene. Morphophysiologic parameters, such as growth rate, biomass
, and leaf, flower, and fruit characteristics were analyzed. Transgenic pla
nts overexpressing the cysteine proteinase inhibitor showed increased growt
h rate and dry weight, earlier flowering, and increased numbers of flowers
and seeds, These pleiotropic effects were correlated with expression level
of oryzacystatin I in transgenic lines. The results suggest that oryzacysta
tin I disrupts the normal activity of cysteine proteinases, which are invol
ved in important physiological processes.