An efficient method to identify oxyfluorfen resistant rice lines by seed germination and mortality of seedlings

摘要

Oxyfluorfen [2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene] and structurally related diphenyl ether compounds exert their herbicidal effect by inhibiting protoorphyrinogen oxidase (Protox, EC 1.3.3.4), which is located in the plastid envelope. The competitive inhibition of Protox eventually leads to the massive accumulation of photosensitizing protoporphyrin IX, which causes membrane lipid peroxidation and ultimately cellular death in the presence of molecular oxygen and light. Since Protox from Bacillus subtilis is poorly inhibited by diphenyl ether herbicides, the development of transgenic plants resistant to these herbicides is plausible. In fact, we have successfully generated transgenic tobacco plants resistant to oxyfluorfen via expression of the B. subtilis Protox gene in tobacco plants and are trying to expand this technique to other plants such as rice and turfgrass.