Transformation with a gene for choline oxidase enhances the cold tolerance of Arabidopsis during germination and early growth

We transformed Arabidopsis thaliana with the codA gene from Arthrobacter globiformis. This gene encodes choline oxidase, the enzyme that converts choline to glycinebetaine, The presence of choline oxidase and glycinebetaine in seeds of transformed lines was confirmed by Western blotting and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, respectively. The transformation with the codA gene significantly enhanced the tolerance of seeds to low temperatures, such as 0 degrees C, during imbibition, The transformation accelerated the germination and grow-th of seedlings at 10 and 15 degrees C, It appears that the presence of glycinebetaine in transformed plants enhances their ability to tolerate low-temperature stress during the imbibition and germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings.