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Home >> Plant Biotechnology and Genomics >> Genetically Modified-GM Crops and Floricultural Plants >> Higher Biomass Production Using Bacterial Hemoglobin Gene VHb


Higher biomass production using bacterial hemoglobin gene (VHb)


Another significant research reported in early 1997 described successful production of transgenic plants that carry a gene encoding bacterial hemoglobin molecule (VHb). These transgenic plants had higher growth rate, altered activity of metabolic pathways and increased productivity.

The plants germinated earlier, grew faster and accumulated 80-100% more fresh weight after 35 days. They also had more chlorophyll and nicotine.

The gene was isolated from the obligate aerobic bacterium Vitreoscilla, (which produces hemoglobin under conditions of limiting O2) and was fused to CaMV35S promoter.

The hemoglobin protein produced in transgenic plants accounted for 0.1 % of total leaf protein and was perhaps responsible for greater availability of O2) as a substrate for a more productive metabolism requiring oxygen. The enhanced productivity due to hemoglobin reported in tobacco will certainly be tried in other crop plants in future.

 

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