Transformation of rice OsMADS1 gene causes homeotic mutations in floral organs of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris)

We introduced OsMADS1, a MADS box gene from rice, into Chinese cabbage using the Agrobacterium-mediated method. Among the 30 regenerated transformants, 7 transgenic plants were confirmed to carry OsMADS1 transcript as the transgene. This gene had been put under the 35S promoter by RT-PCR and RT-PCR northern hybridization. The NPT II and OsMADS1 primers detected 0.7-kb and 0.6-kb PCR products, respectively, that corresponded with the expected size from their transcripts. Our results suggest that those transgenes are expressed in the transgenic plants. We also observed the plants at the flowering stage in order to identify any possible morphological alteration caused by the transgene during flowering. One notable mutation involved the homeotic replacement of a carpel with another flower instead.