Abstract:

The expression vector of CBF4 gene cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana by PCR and driven with promoterof rd29A gene, a preceding stress responsive gene, was constructed. Immatureembryo and embryogenic callus of several excellent maize inbred lines were transformed with biolistic bombardment. After in vitro culture steps of callus induction, resistance selection, differentiation and plant regeneration, thirty six transgenic plants were obtained. PCR, PCR-Southern and Southern blot analysis indicated that successful integration of alien target gene into genome of transgenic maize lines was happened. Measurement of drought physiological indexes under artificial drought treatment showed that either proline content or chlorophyll content of a transgenic line increased over one time than that of its wild type, suggesting that the drought resistance ability of transgenic maize might be improved to a certain extent.

Key words: Maize, Transgenic, CBF4 gene, Drought resistance