Title : Production of medicinal functional rapeseed with alien chromosomes of Chinese woad
Abstract:
The crucifer Chinese woad (Isatis indigotica, 2n=14, genomes II) is an ancient dye and medicinal plant in China. Its root (Radix Isatidis) is the most common and effective natural medicine for influenza, but the genetic control of its bioactive compounds and biosynthesis pathways remain to study. Through protoplast fusions between oilseed rape (Brassica napus, 2n=38, genomes AACC) and Chinese woad, somatic hybrids (2n=52, AACCII) were produced and backcrossed to oilseed rape, and seven alien additional lines (AALs) of oilseed rape carrying each of seven woad chromosomes were obtained. In cell culture, some AALs showed stronger inhibition to the propagation of AIV H5N6 and vesicular stomatitis virus than the woad, comparable to the NA inhibitor Oseltamivir. In mice, some MAALs still demonstrated stronger inhibition of H5N6 propagation than the woad. The expressions of most woad genes, especially some involved in the biosynthesis pathways of bioactive compounds were up-regulated. The AALs with the increased virus resistance also contained more types and higher contents of the bioactive compounds than the woad. These AALs had larger biomass than woad and provided novel vegetable for human and fodder or feed additives for livestock.
