Erratum pages attached to back page. / Bibliography : leaves 125-147. / 147, [41] leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study was undertaken to derive a strategy to reduce the potential of S. cerevisiae to produce hydrogen sulfide under oenologial conditions by altering the levels of active sulfite reductase in the cell. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 2000

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A number of proteins essential for the survival of a plant are encoded by the chloroplast genome. The characterization and sequencing of a number of algal and plant chloroplast genomes has facilitated researchers understanding of cellular functions and metabolism. Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) has also been used to determine inter- and intraspecies evolutionary relationships and this organelle offers an alternative means of expressing foreign genes. Although a number of species' chloroplast genomes have been characterized and sequenced, no previous attempts of this kind have been made for a chloroplast genome of the family Vitaceae. In this study, attempts were made to characterize and partially sequence the chloroplast genome of Vilis vinifera. Chloroplast DNA was isolated from the Sultana and Sugra 1 cultivars and digested with restriction enzymes that produced cpDNA fragments of a suitable size for cloning. The fragments were shotgun-cloned into a plasmid vector and white colonies were screened by means of PCR and colony blotting. Three EcoRI-digested clones and one PstI-digested clone were obtained in this manner. Walking outwards from a previously sequenced grapevine rrn 16 gene region by means of PCR also allowed us to sequence a further -3310 bp region of the Sultana chloroplast genome. BAC clones containing V. vinifera cv L. Cabernet Sauvignon cpDNA inserts became available later in the project. It was decided to use these clones for further library construction instead of isolated cpDNA. The 5' and 3' end sequences of seven of the 24 BAC clones were obtained. These were compared to sequences found in the NCBI database to find - homologous chloroplast regions and determine the size of each BAC insert. One clone appeared to contain the entire grapevine chloroplast genome, apart from a 500 bp region. This clone was selected for further analysis. The BAC clone DNA was isolated and restriction-digested fragments were shotgun-cloned into a plasmid vector. White colonies were screened by isolating the plasmid DNA and digesting it with appropriate restriction enzy~es. The 5' and 3' ends of putative positive clones were sequenced and mapped onto the Atropa belladonna chloroplast genome. A total of 15 clones were obtained in this project. Five of these contain cpDNA isolated from grapevine leaves and 10 contain fragments sub-cloned from the BAC clone. The biggest problem encountered with both methods used for library construction was genomic DNA contamination. Genomic DNA either originated from the plant nuclear genome or from the bacterial host cells in which the BAC clones were maintained. Many of the clones screened contained genomic DNA, and these could only be identified and removed once the clones had been sequenced. Even when a commercial kit was used for BAC clone isolation, 31% of the clones screened contained genomic DNA. This kit was specifically designed for the isolation of genomic DNA-free large constructs. The clones obtained from the two strategies provided a good representation of the grapevine chloroplast genome. The only region not represented was the Small Single Copy (SSC) region. Approximately 40% of the grapevine chloroplast genome was covered by these clones. This provides a basis for further genome characterization, physical mapping and sequencing of the grapevine chloroplast genome. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die chloroplasgenoom kodeer VIr 'n hele aantal proteïene wat essensieel is VIr die voortbestaan van 'n plant. Die karakterisering en volgorde bepaling van 'n aantal alg en plant chloroplasgenome het dit. vir navorsers moontlik gemaak om sellulêre funksies en metabolisme van plante te ontrafel. Chloroplas DNA (cpDNA) is ook gebruik om intra- en interspecies evolusionêre verwantskappe vas te stel. Dié organel verskaf ook 'n alternatiewe manier vir die uitdrukking van transgene. Alhoewel die chloroplasgenome van 'n hele aantal species al gekarakteriseer is en die DNA volgorde daarvan bepaal is, is daar nog geen navorsing van bogenoemde aard op die chloroplasgenoom van die Vitaceae familie gedoen rue. In hierdie studie is beoog om die chloroplasgenoom van Vitis vinifera te karakteriseer en gedeeltelike volgordebepaling daarvan te doen. Chloroplas DNA is geïsoleer vanaf Sultana en Sugra 1 kultivars en restriksie-ensiem vertering is gedoen met ensieme wat cpDNA fragmente, met geskikte grootte vir klonering, produseer. Dié fragmente is in 'n plasmiedvektor gekloneer met die haelgeweer-metode en wit kolonies is gesif deur middel van PKR en die kolonieklad metode. Op hierdie manier is drie EcoRI-verteerde klone en een PstI-verteerde kloon verkry. Deur uitwaarts te loop, deur middel van PKR, vanaf 'n druif rrnl6 geenstreek, waarvan die volgorde voorafbepaal is, was dit vir ons moontlik om ook die volgorde te bepaal van 'n verdere ~3310 bp streek van die Sultana chloroplasgenoom. BAC klone wat V. vinifera cv L. Cabernet Sauvignon cpDNA fragmente bevat, het later in die projek beskikbaar geraak. Daar is besluit om hierdie klone, i.p.v. die geïsoleerde cpDNA, te gebruik vir verdere biblioteek konstruksie. Die 5' en 3' entpuntvolgordes van sewe uit die 24 BAC ~lone is verkry. Hierdie volgordes is vergelyk met volgordes in die NCB Idatabasis om homoloë chloroplas streke te identifiseer, en die grootte van elke BAC fragment te bepaal. Die het geblyk dat die hele druif chloroplasgenoom in een van die klone vervat is, behalwe vir 'n 500 bp streek. Die BAC-kloon DNA is geïsoleer en die restriksie-verteerde fragmente is in 'n plasmiedvektor gekloon d.m.V. die haelgeweer-metode. Wit kolonies is gesif deur die isolering van plasmied DNA en die vertering daarvan met geskikte restriksie-ensieme. Die volgorde van die 5' en 3' entpunte van skynbare positiewe klone is bepaal en gekarteer op die Atropa belladonna chloroplasgenoom. In hierdie studie is 'n totaal van 15 klone verkry. Vyf hiervan bevat cpDNA wat vanaf druifblare geïsoleer is, en 10 bevat fragmente wat vanaf die BAC-klone gesubkloneer is. Genorniese DNA kontaminasie was die grootste probleem wat ondervind is tydens beide metodes wat gebruik is vir biblioteek konstruksie. Genomiese DNA was afkomstig vanaf óf die plant nukleêre genoom óf die bakteriële gasheerselle waarin die BAC-klone gehou is. Baie van die klone wat gesif is, het genomiese DNA bevat, en dit kon eers geïdentifiseer en verwyder word nadat die volgorde van die klone bepaal is. Selfs al is 'n kommersiële produk vir BAC-kloon isolasie gebruik, het 31% van die gesifde klone steeds genomiese DNA bevat. Dié kommersiële produk is spesifiek vir die isolasie van groot konstrukte, wat genomiese DNA vry is, ontwerp. Die klone wat deur die twee strategeë verkry is, het 'n goeie verteenwoordiging van die druif chloroplasgenoom gegee. Die enigste streek wat die verteenwoordig is nie, was die Klein Enkelkopie (SSC) streek. Ongeveer 40% van die druif chloroplasgenoom is deur hierdie klone gedek. Dit verskaf 'n basis vir verdere genoomkarakterisering, fisiese kartering en volgordebepaling van die druif chloroplasgenoom.

Bibliography: leaves 212-227.

Bibliography: leaves 212-227. / viii, 227 leaves, [19] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2001

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grapevine is worldwide an agronomically important crop. Traditionally selective breeding has been used to improve existing cultivars. In the last ten years, however, the advent of biotechnology has shortened these breeding programmes by producing transgenic grapevine. Because this new technology is aimed at the possible genetic manipulation of the ripening process in grape berries, it is important to elucidate all the mechanisms that may be involved in ripening. The aim of the present study was the identification of genes that play an important role during the ripening process in grape berries. This was achieved by investigation of putative differentially expressed genes in ripening Chardonnay berries isolated through subtractive hybridisation. Two subtraction libraries, representing early and late ripening stages were constructed. Four of the ten genes analysed exhibited expression during berry ripening. One of the four genes was expressed in a tissue and stage specific manner. Further characterisation of eight of the DNA and protein sequences revealed that the putative translation products of these clones had homologues that are involved in amongst others cell wall structure in other species. These included UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which is involved in the synthesis of hemicellulose precursors. The remaining seven clones encoded putative stress response proteins. These included two heat shock proteins, a vacuolar pyrophosphatase and a protein involved in cell division. It is suggested that specific grape mRNAs accumulate in response to stresses such as the storage of high concentrations of sugars and rapid cell expansion. These processes occur rapidly during the ripening of berries. Accumulation of specific mRNAs can be attributed to part of the normal ripening developmental programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Druiwe is wêreldwyd 'n belangrike landbougewas en kultivars word tradisioneel deur middel van tydsame selektiewe teling verbeter. Die tyd wat hieraan bestee word, kan verkort word deur die implementering van biotegnologie en die produksie van transgeniese duiwe. Omdat hierdie nuwe tegnologie op die moontlike genetiese manipulering van die rypwordingsproses in druiwe gemik is, is dit belangrik dat alle meganismes betrokke by rypwording ondersoek en verstaan word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om gene wat moontlik tydens die rypwordingsproses in druiwe 'n rol kan speel, te identifiseer. Hierdie doel is bereik deurdat differensieel uitgedrukte gene uit die kultivar Chardonnay geïsoleer is met behulp van verrykingsbiblioteke vanuit jong en volwasse druiwekorrels. Vier van die tien gene wat geanaliseer is, word uitgedruk tydens die rypwordingsproses. Verder het een van die vier gene weefsel- en rypwordingstadium- spesifisiteit getoon. Volledige karakterisering van agt van die DNA- en proteïenvolgordes het aangedui dat die proteïenprodukte van hierdie gene homoloog is aan volgordes wat onder andere by selwandstruktuur betrokke is. Dit sluit UDP-glukose dehidrogenase in, wat betrokke is by die sintese van hemi-sellulose boustene. Die ander sewe gene kodeer vir moontlike spanningsproteïene. Twee hitteskokproteïene, 'n vakuolêre pirofosfatase en 'n proteïen wat betrokke is by selverdeling is geïdentifiseer. Daar word voorgestel dat druiwe mRNA versamel in reaksie op spanningsituasies soos die berging van hoë konsentrasies suikers en selvergroting. Hierdie prosesse vind baie vinnig plaas tydens rypwording. Versameling van spesifieke mRNAs kan toegeskryf word as 'n normale deel van die rypwordingsproses.

Thesis (PhD (Genetics. Plant Biotechnology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Plants are constantly exposed to adverse environmental conditions including variations in light intensity and the availability of water resources. These abiotic factors are expected to worsen as the changing global climate places additional daily and seasonal demands on plant growth and productivity. As plants are incapable of avoiding stress they have developed a number of mechanisms to manage and adapt to the unfavourable conditions. Carotenoids represent one of these mechanisms; with the xanthophylls (oxygenated carotenes) playing an essential role in photoprotection following exposure to excess light energy. They are also precursors to the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) which plays a known role in stomatal regulation and thus drought tolerance. Carotenoids have been identified as potential targets for genetic manipulation to meet the existing nutritional demands (particularly vitamin A) and to enable plants to survive the climatic variations predicted. Thorough investigations into the regulation and functioning of each carotenoid biosynthetic gene in vivo as well as the roles of their encoded proteins are prerequisite. Within the Grapevine Biotechnology Programme, a number of isoprenoid biosynthetic genes have been isolated from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinotage. From this vast resource two genes were chosen; namely a lycopene b-cyclase (b-LCY) and 9-cis epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) for detailed in planta analyses to address knowledge gaps in our current understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis in general, its regulation and the roles of the two target genes in these processes. Currently, the role of b-LCY within the chloroplasts is not well known. Although the relationship between NCED overexpression, ABA levels, reduced stomatal conductance and increased tolerance to water stress has been well-established, comprehensive physiological analysis of the resulting mutants during conditions of both water availability and shortage is not well documented. To assess their in planta role, functional copies of both genes were isolated from Vitis vinifera (cv. Pinotage), characterised and independently transformed into the genome of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, in the sense orientation under a constitutive promoter. In order to investigate these pertinent scientific questions and thus to evaluate the physiological role of each gene in vivo, a number of technologies were developed and/or adopted. These included a high-performance liquid chromatography method for profiling the major plant pigments in leaf tissue, a combination vapour phase extraction and electron impact-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the phytohormone profiling as well as various physiological analyses including the use of chlorophyll a fluorescence to assess the photosynthetic and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) capacities of the plants. Overexpression of grapevine b-LCY (Vvb-LCY) decreased lutein levels due to preferential partitioning of lycopene into the b-branch. This decrease was not met by an increase in either b-carotene or the xanthophyll cycle pigments implying that Vvb-LCY is not able to regulate the flow of carbon through the pathway and provides additional evidence to the fluidity of this pathway whereby pigment levels are continually balanced. The decreased lutein levels observed under low light (LL) did not compromise the plants’ ability to induce and maintain NPQ over a wide actinic light range. Vvb-LCY transgenics also had lower neoxanthin levels (and specifically the cis-isomer) under both LL and following exposure to high light (HL), which could be correlated to an increase in malondialdehyde. Although not corroborated, a novel and unexpected finding was an essential role for neoxanthin, and potentially lutein, in preventing or at least reducing lipid peroxidation under HL stress. The lower neoxanthin amounts may be due to silencing of the Arabidopsis b-LCY by the Vvb-LCY, as the former may function as a NSY paralog as NSY is not encoded for in the Arabidopsis genome. Clearly, this study has confirmed that Vvb-LCY partitions the carbon flux between the a- and b-branches, however, the catalytic action of this enzyme is dependent on the amount of substrate available and is thus not a regulatory step directing the flux within the pathway. Enzyme kinetic and detailed transcriptional analyses would confirm the above findings. Overexpression of grapevine NCED1 (VvNCED1) increased ABA concentrations, delayed seed germination and resulted in a slight to severe reduction in the overall plant growth rate. NCED cleaves the 9-cis xanthophylls regulating ABA synthesis. However, contrary to expectations, constitutive levels of this regulatory enzyme did not deplete the total and individual chlorophylls and carotenoids in well-watered plants. Instead the VvNCED1 transgenics simply exhibited a lower chloroplastic pigment complement with no concomitant effects on their photosynthetic capacity. Of particular interest, well-watered plants overexpressing the VvNCED1 gene had an increased NPQ capacity of which the thermal energy dissipation component (qE) was the most significant. It has been speculated that this NPQ is associated with the phenotype conferred by VvNCED1 overexpression and occurs independently of the xanthophyll cycle, and specifically zeaxanthin. This study confirmed that VvNCED1 functions during drought tolerance via ABA regulation of stomatal conductance. A detailed study was done to understand the plants’ response during water deficit. Typically, decreases in total and individual carotenoids and the maximum efficiency of photochemistry (Fv/Fm) as well as the relative water and soil moisture content were recorded. No changes were recorded in salicylic acid (SA) levels, while indole acetic acid (IAA) was positively correlated to ABA or vice versa. In contrast, the physiology of VvNCED1 overexpressing lines was largely unaffected, indicating that a reduced stomatal conductance protects the plants against water stress. This study has resulted in the isolation and characterisation of a carotenoid biosynthetic gene (b-LCY) and an abscisic acid synthesising gene (NCED). Significant advancements in our existing knowledge of the in planta role of both genes have been achieved. We have also reaffirmed that strict regulatory control and fluidity exists within the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway whereby individual pigment levels are constantly brought back into balance despite constitutive expression of one of the pathway gene members. These analyses provide valuable baseline information about individual genes which can be extended upon with other omic technologies in order to comprehend the full complexity involved in carotenogenesis.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / 152 Leaves printed single pages, preliminary pages i-xiv and 129 numberd pages. Includes bibliography. List of abbreviations. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite increased focus on ripening-related gene transcription in grapevine, and the large number of ripening-related cDNAs identified from grapes in recent years, the molecular basis of processes involved in grape berry ripening is still poorly understood. Moreover, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the ripening-related regulation of fruit-specific genes, since the isolation and characterisation of no ripening-related, fruit-specific promoter elements has been reported to date. This study was aimed at the isolation and characterisation of a fruit-specific, ripeningregulated gene from Vitis vinifera L. In the first phase of the work, gene transcription in ripening berries of Cabernet Sauvignon (a good quality wine cultivar) and Clairette blanche (a poor quality wine cultivar) were studied by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis of complementary DNA (cDNA-AFLP analysis). Total RNA from immature (14-weeks post flowering, wpf) and mature (18-wpf) berries was used for the analysis. A total of 1 276 cDNA fragments were visualised, of which 175 appeared to be ripening related. Average pairwise difference of the fragments amplified from immature and mature Clairette and Cabernet berries, suggested that ripening-related gene transcription in these two phenotypically different cultivars is remarkably similar. Nevertheless, it was shown that seventy percent of the 175 ripening-related cDNA fragments were cultivar-specific. It was suggested that these differences should be targeted to identify genes related to the phenotypical differences between the two cultivars, but also to identify genes possibly involved berry quality. Moreover, the analysis illustrated the usefulness of cDNA-AFLPs for the analysis of ripening-related gene transcription during grape berry ripening. In the second phase of the work, one of the ripening-related cDNAs identified by the cDNA-AFLP analysis, was selected for further characterisation. This work highlighted the limitation placed on the isolation of a single specific sequence from a cDNA-AFLP gel, indicating the presence of multiple ripening-related genes in a single band excised from a cDNA-AFLP gel. Steps to overcome this limitation of cDNA-AFLP analysis to identify and clone a specific ripening-related gene, were implemented. In short, the band corresponding to the particular ripening-related cDNA was band was excised from the cDNA-AFLP polyacrylamide gel and re-amplified. Northern blot analysis using the re-amplified, uncloned product confirmed the ripening-related transcription demonstrated by cDNA-AFLP analysis. The re-amplified, uncloned product was then cloned. Sequence analysis of two randomly selected candidate clones revealed two distinctly different sequences, of which neither hybridised to messenger RNA from ripening grape berries. Furtheranalysis revealed an additional five cDNAs with terminal sequences corresponding to the selective nucleotides of the primers used for selective amplification, in the re-amplified, uncloned product. Of these, only two were abundantly expressed in ripening grape berries, accounting for the ripeningrelated transcription visualised by cDNA-AFLP analysis. All seven cDNAs identified from the particular excised band were shown to be ripening-regulated during berry development, although most were characterised by low levels of transcription during berry ripening. One of the clones, based on the relative high levels of the transcript and the initiation of gene transcription at the onset of véraison (10- to 12-wpf), was identified for isolation and characterisation of the full length coding sequence. In the third phase of the work, it was shown that this cloned sequence corresponded to a gene encoding a proline-rich protein (PRP) associated with ripening in Merlot and Chardonnay (mrip1, Merlot ripening-induced protein 1). It was shown that the gene is specifically transcribed in the fruit tissue, seed and bunchstems of grapes, from 10-wpf (véraison) to the final stages of berry ripening. The results showed that mrip1 encodes a distinct member of the plant PRP family. Most obvious is the central region of mrip1, which is comprised of eight consecutive repeats of 19 amino acid residues each. In comparison with other grapevine PRPs, mrip1 revealed single amino acid differences and deletion of one of the 19 amino acid residues repeats, all in the central region of mrip1. In situ hybridisation studies showed that accumulation of the mrip1 transcript in the ripening berry is limited to the mesocarp and exocarp cells of the ripening grape berry. No transcript with high sequences similarity to mrip1 could be detected in ripening strawberry or tomato fruit. Based on the properties and proposed function of PRPs, and the results obtained in this study, potential applications for the use of this gene in the control of cell wall architecture in fruits, were proposed. Furthermore, as manipulation of fruit properties in grape berries would be most important in the later stages of ripening, mrip1 was proposed an ideal candidate gene for the isolation of a fruit- and late-ripening-specific promoter to achieve transgene transcription in genetically modified grapevine. The final phase of the work was dedicated to the isolation and characterisation of the mrip1 promoter element. A 5.5 kb sequence corresponding to the mrip1 5’ untranslated (UTR) flanking region was isolated and characterised by sequence analysis. In the 2.8 kb sequence directly upstream of the mrip1 transcription initiation site, several putative cis-acting regulatory elements were identified. These include a spectrum of hormone-, light-, phytochrome-, sugar-and stressresponsive elements, as well as elements implicated in tissue-specific transcription. Analysis of the sequence further upstream (3.6 – 5.5 kb) of the mrip1 transcription initiation site (TIS), revealed the presence of another proline-rich protein directly upstream of mrip1. Sequence identity of this sequence (mprp2) to the mrip1 coding sequence was 88%. This information provided the first insight into the chromosomal organisation of grapevine PRPs. For functional analysis of the mrip1 promoter element, the 2.2 kb sequence directly upstream of the mrip1 TIS, was translationally fused to the sgfpS65T reporter gene. Functionality of the mrip1:sgfpS65T fusion was verified by transient expression in green pepper pericarp tissue, before introduction into tobacco by Agrobacteriummediated transformation. In transgenic tobacco, transcription of the mrip1:sgfpS65T fusion was developmentally-regulated and specific to the ovary and nectary-tissue of the developing flower. Whilst low in immature flowers, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) rapidly accumulated to the high level of expression visualised in the flower in full-bloom, followed by a decrease in the final stages of ovary development. These observations suggested that the 2.2 kb mrip1 promoter is functional and that this promoter region harbours cis-elements necessary for tissue- and developmental-specific regulation of GFP accumulation. It furthermore suggested that the transcriptional activation of mrip1 is mediated by developmental signals present in both grapevine berries and tobacco flowers. Results presented, suggest that the use of tobacco as heterologous system for the analysis of ripening-related promoters, can be more generally applied. Evidently, characterisation of the mrip1 promoter region contributes towards a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms involved in non-climacteric fruit ripening, and forms a basis for future experiments defining the cis-acting elements necessary for tissue- and cell-specific gene regulation in fruit, more specifically in grapevine. Moreover, the mrip1 promoter is an ideal candidate for the ripening-related, tissue-specific regulation of transgene transcription in genetically modified grapevine. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van toenemende fokus op rypwordings-verwante geentranskripsie in druiwe, en die groot aantal rypwordings-verwante komplimentere DNA (cDNA) fragmente wat gedurende die laaste paar jaar in druiwe geïdentifiseer is, word die molekulêre basis van prosesse betrokke by die rypwording van die druif, steeds swak begryp. Nog te meer, is baie min bekend oor die meganismes betrokke in the rypwordings-verwante regulering van vrugspesifieke gene, aangesien die isolering en karakterisering van nie een rypwordings-verwante, vrugspesifieke promoter tot dusver gerapporteer is nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was die isolering en karakterisering van ‘n vrugspesifieke, rypwordings-verwante geen uit druiwe (Vitis vinifera L). In die eerste fase van die werk, is geentranskripsie in rypwordende druiwekorrels van Cabernet Sauvignon (‘n goeie kwaliteit wyn kultivar) en Clairette blanche (‘n swak kwaliteit wyn kultivar) bestudeer deur middel van cDNA-AFLP vingerafdrukke. Totale RNA van onvolwasse (14-weke na blom vorming) en volwasse (18-weke na blom vorming) druiwekorrels was gebruik vir die analise. ‘n Totaal van 1 276 cDNA fragmente is gevisualiseer, waarvan 175 as rypwordings-verwant voorgekom het. Gemiddelde paarsgewyse verskille van die fragmente wat vanaf onvolwasse en volwasse Clairette en Cabernet druiwekorrels geamplifiseer is, het aangedui dat rypwordingverwante geentranskripsie in die twee kultivars, wat fenotipies baie van mekaar verskil, merkwaardig soortgelyk is. Nieteenstaande, is daar gewys dat sewentig persent van die 175 rypwordings-verwante cDNA fragmente, kultivar-spesifiek is. Daar is voorgestel dat hierdie spesifieke cDNAs verder geanaliseer word om gene betrokke by die fenotipiese verskille tussen die twee kultivars te identifiseer; maar ook om gene te identifiseer wat moontlik by die kwaliteit van die druiwekorrel betrokke is. Voorts, het die analise die bruikbaarheid van die cDNA-AFLP tegniek vir die karakterisering van rypwordings-verwante geentranskripsie in rypwordende druiwekorrels, geïllustreer. In die tweede fase van die werk, is een van die rypwordings-verwante cDNAs wat met die cDNAAFLP analise geïdentifiseer is, geselekteer vir verdere karakterisering. ‘n Aantal rypwordingsverwante cDNAs is in die enkele band wat uit die cDNA-AFLP gel gesny is, geïdentfiseer. Dit het die beperking wat geplaas word op die isolering van ‘n enkel, spesifieke cDNA uit die cDNA-AFLP gel, beklemtoon. Stappe om hierdie beperking te oorkom, en ‘n spesifieke rypwordings-verwante cDNA te identfiseer en te kloneer, is beskryf. In kort, die band oorstemmend met die spesifieke rypwordings-verwante cDNA, is uit die cDNA-AFLP poli-akrielamied gel gesny en gereamplifiseer. Noordelike klad analise waarin die ge-reamplifiseerde, ongekloneerde produk aspeiler gebruik is, het die rypwordings-verwante transkripsie soos deur cDNA-AFLP analise aangedui, bevestig. Die ge-reamplifiseerde, ongekloneerde produk is daarna gekloneer. Nukleotied volgorde bepaling van twee ewekansig geselekteerde kandidaat klone, het twee duidelik verskillende cDNAs aangetoon, waarvan nie een enige hibridisering met boodskapper RNA van rypwordende druiwekorrels getoon het nie. Verder analise het die teenwoordigheid van ‘n verder vyf cDNAs met terminale nukleotied volgordes ooreenstemmend met die selektiewe nukleotiede van die voorlopers wat gebruik is vir selektiewe amplifisering, aangetoon. Van hierdie, het slegs twee hoë vlakke van geentranskripsie in rypwordende druiwekorrels getoon; heel moontlik verteenwoordigend van die rypwordings-verwante geentranskripsie wat met die cDNA-AFLP analise gevisualiseer is. Die studie het gewys dat al sewe cDNAs rypwordings-verwant is, alhoewel die meeste van hierdie cDNAs baie lae vlakke van geentranskripsie tydens duiwekorrel rypwording getoon het. Gebaseer op relatief hoë vlakke van die transkrip, en die inisiering van geen transkripsie met die aanvang van vrugrypwording (véraison, 10- tot 12-weke na blomvorming), is een van die cDNAs geselekteer vir isolering en karakterisering van die vollengte koderings volgorde. In die derde fase van die werk, is dit aangetoon dat hierdie cDNA ooreenstem met ‘n geen wat vir ‘n proline-ryke proteïen (PRP), geassosieerd met vrugrypwording in Merlot en Chardonnay, kodeer. Hierdie geen is genoem Merlot rypwording-geïnduseerde proteïen 1 (mrip1). Die studie het verder aangetoon dat hierdie geen spesifiek in die weefsel van druiwekorrels, saad and stammetjies van die druiwetros getranskribeer word, vanaf 10-weke na blomvorming (véraison) tot 16-weke na blomvorming. Resultate het aangetoon dat mrip1 vir ‘n unieke lid van die plant PRP familie kodeer. Mees opvallend, is die sentrale gedeelte van mrip1, wat uit agt opeenvolgende herhalings van negentien aminosure elk bestaan. In vergelyking met ander druif PRPs, toon mrip1 enkel aminosuur verskille en ‘n delesie van een van die negentien aminosuur herhalings, alles in die sentrale gedeelte van mrip1. In situ hibridisering het getoon dat akkumulering van die mrip1 transkrip net in selle van die mesocarp en eksokarp van die rypwordende druif plaasvind. Geen transkip met hoë nukleotied gelyksoortigheid aan mrip1 kon in rypwordende aarbeie of tamatie vrugte aangetoon word nie. Gebaseer op die eienskappe en funksie van PRPs soos voorgestel in die literatuur, en die bevindinge van hierdie studie, is potensiële toepassings vir die gebruik van die geen in die beheer van selwand argitektuur in vrugte, voorgestel. Verder, aangesien die manipulering van vrugkwaliteit in die druif veral belangrik is vanaf die aanvang van vrugrypwording (véraison), is daar voorgestel dat mrip1 ‘n ideale kandidaat is vir die isolering van ‘n vrugspesifieke en rypwording-verwante promoter vir gebruik in geneties gemodifiseerde druiwe. Die laaste fase van die studie was gewy aan die isolering en karakterisering van die mrip1 promotor element. ‘n 5.5 kb fragment ooreenstemmend met die mrip1 5’ ongetransleerde area is geisoleer en gekarakteriseer deur middel van nukleotied volgorde bepaling. In die 2.8 kb area direk stroomop van die mrip1 transkripsie inisiasie punt (TIS), is verskeie moontlike cis-beherende regulatoriese elemente geïdentifiseer. Hierdie sluit in ‘n spektrum van hormoon-, lig-, fitochroom-, suiker- en stress-reagerende elemente, asook elemente geïmpliseer in weefselspesifieke geentranskripsie. Analise van die area verder stroomop (3.6 – 5.5 kb) van die mrip1 TIS, het die teenwoordigheid van ‘n ander PRP direk stroomop van mrip1 getoon. Nukleotied gelyksoortigheid van hierdie geen (MPRP2) aan die mrip1 koderingsgebied was slegs 88%. Hierdie inligting verskaf die eerste insig in die chromosomale organisasie van druif PRPs. Vir funksionele analise van die mrip1 promotor element, is die 2.2 kb area direk stroomop van die mrip1 TIS transkripsioneel verenig met die sgfpS65T merker geen. Funksionaliteit van die mrip1: sgfpS65T fusie is bevestig deur middel van kortstondige (transient) geenuitdrukking in die perikarp van groenrissie, voordat dit ingevoer is in tabak met Agrobacterium-bemiddelde genetiese transformasie. In transgeniese tabak was transkripsie van die mrip1:sgfpS65T fusie ontwikkelingsstadium-gereguleerd, en spesifiek in die ovarium en heuningsakkie (nektarium) van die ontwikkelende blomme. Terwyl die vlak van geenuitdrukking laag was in die jong blomme, het GFP baie vinnig akkumuleer tot die hoë vlakke wat in die blomme in volle-blom gevisualiseer is. Daarna het dit weer vinnig afgeneem tydens die finale stadiums van ovarium ontwikkeling. Hierdie waarnemings dui daarop dat die 2.2 kb mrip1 promotor element funksioneel is en dit al die nodige cis-beherende regulatoriese element bevat wat nodig is vir weefsel- en ontwikkelingsstadium-spesifieke regulering van GFP akkumulering. Dit dui verder daarop dat transkripsionele aktivering van mrip1 beheer word deur ontwikkelingsstadium seine teenwoordig in beide die druif en tabakblomme. Hierdie resultate stel voor dat tabak meer algemeen gebruik kan word as heteroloë sisteem vir die analise van rypwording-verwante promotors. Duidelik dra die karakterisering van die mrip1 promoter element by tot ‘n beter begrip van die regulatoriese meganismes betrokke by die rypwordingsproses van nie-klimateriese vrugte, en vorm die basis vir toekomstige eksperimente waarin die cis-beherende regulatoriese elemente vir vrug- en sel-spesifieke geen regulering, meer spesifiek die druif, bepaal sal word. Meer nog, is die mrip1 promotor ‘n ideale kandidaat vir weefsel-spefieke en rypwording-verwante regulering van transkripsie van die transgeen in geneties gemodifiseerde druiwe.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plants cannot avoid stress and must therefore be capable of rapidly responding to extreme environmental changes. An inability to control and regulate the photosynthetic process during stress conditions will lead to the formation of highly reactive oxygen species that concomitantly causes photo-oxidative damage to the pigments and proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus. Since light is the primary source of energy for the photosynthetic process, it is clear that plants are continuously required to balance the light energy absorbed for the photochemical reactions against photoprotection in a dynamic way in order to survive. Carotenoids are precursors of abscisic acid, but more importantly structural components of the photosynthetic apparatus. During photosynthesis carotenoids function as accessory light-harvesting pigments, and also fulfil a photoprotective function by quenching the reactive molecules formed during conditions that saturate the photosynthetic process. Due to the importance of carotenoids to plant fitness and human health (as Vitamin A precursors) this study has attempted to isolate and characterise genes that are directly, or indirectly involved in carotenoid biosynthesis in Vitis vinifera. In total eleven full-Iength- and eight partial genes have been isolated, cloned and sequenced. These genes can be grouped into the following pathways: (i) the 1- deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DOXP)/2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway (i.e. the plastidic isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthetic pathway); (ii) the mevalonate pathway (i.e. the cytosolic/mitochondrial IPP biosynthetic pathway); (iii) the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway; (iv) the abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway (as a degradation product of carotenoids); and general isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways (as precursors of carotenoids). The full-length genes (i.e. from the putative ATG to the STOP codon) of DOXP synthase (DXS), 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (lytB), IPP isomerase (IPI), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (HMGS), phytoene synthase (PSY), Iycopene ~-cyclase (LBCY), ~-carotene hydroxylase (BCH), zeaxanthin epoxidase (lEP), 9-cis-epoxy carotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPS) have been isolated from cDNA. In addition, the full-length genomic copy and putative promoters of DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, NCED and lEP have also been isolated from genomic DNA by the construction and screening of sub-genomic libraries. Alignments of the genomic copies of these genes to the corresponding cDNA sequences have provided useful information regarding the genomic organisation of these genes, including the intron-exon junction sites in V. vinifera. The copy number of the DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, NCED and lEP encoding genes in the Vitis genome have been determined. DXS, PSY, BCH and lEP are single copy genes, whereas LBCY and NCED have two and three copies, respectively. The transcriptional activity of the putative promoters of six of the isolated genes (i.e. DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, lEP and NCED) were tested with a transient reporter gene assay. None of the putative promoters tested showed any transcriptional activity of the reporter gene. The transcription of these genes, has however been shown using northern blot analysis and/or RT-PCR. Preliminary expression profiles for PSY, LBCY, BCH, and lEP were determined in different plant organs and the expression of these genes was generally higher in photosynthetically active tissues. The expression of these genes following different treatments (abscisic acid, NaCI and wounding) was also assayed. The functionality of five of the isolated full-length genes (IPI, GGPS, PSY, LBCY and BCH) has been shown in a bacterial colour complementation assay. In silica analysis of the predicted protein sequences of all eleven isolated genes revealed that they are conserved and share a high degree of homology to the corresponding proteins in other plant species. The sequences were further analysed for conserved domains in the protein sequences, and these proteins typically demonstrated similar domain profiles to homologues in other species (plant, bacteria and algae). The predicted protein sequences were further analysed for transit peptides, the presence of which would provide evidence for the sub-cellular localisation of the mature peptides. Since these genes are involved in biosynthetic pathways that are active in discrete organelles, the sub-cellular localisation of most of these proteins is known. The carotenoid biosynthetic genes (PSY, LBCY, BCH and ZEP), the abscisic acid biosynthetic gene, NCED, as well as the DOXP/MEP pathway genes (DXS, lytB and IPI) were all localised to the chloroplast. The mevalonate pathway gene, HMGS, was localised to both the cytosol and the mitochondria, and the general isoprenoid precursor genes, FPS and GGPS, were localised to the cytosol and the chloroplast, respectively. All these results are in agreement with the localisation of the respective pathways. In order to increase our understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis and functions in plants, we constitutively overexpressed one of the isolated genes (BCH) in the model plant, Nicotiana tabacum. Plants expressing the BCH gene in the sense orientation maintained a healthy photosynthetic rate under stress conditions that typically caused photoinhibition and photodamage in the untransformed control plants. This result was inferred using chlorophyll fluorescence and confirmed using CO2 assimilation rates and stomatal conductance. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements indicated that the photo protective non-photochemical quenching ability of the BCH-expressing plants increased, enabling the plants to maintain photosynthesis under conditions that elicited a stress response in the untransformed control plants. An integral photosynthetic protein component, the D1 protein, was specifically protected by the additional zeaxanthin in the BCH sense plants. Plants expressing an antisense BCH proved the converse, i.e. lower levels of BCH resulted in decreased zeaxanthin levels and made the transgenic plants more susceptible to high-light induced stress. These results have shown the crucial role of carotenoids (specifically the xanthophylls) in the photoprotective mechanism in plants. The increased photoprotection provided by the BCH expressing plants suggests that the scenario in plants is not optimal and can be improved. Any improvement in the photoprotective ability of a plant will affect both the fitness and productivity of the plant as a whole and will therefore find application in a number of crop plants on a global scale. This study has resulted in the successful isolation and characterisation of genes involved in the direct, or indirect, carotenoid biosynthetic pathways. The further study and manipulation of these genes in model plants will provide useful insights into the physiological role of specific carotenoids in photosynthesis and in plants as a whole. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Plante het nie die vermoë om stres te ontwyk nie en moet dus vinnig op veranderinge in hulomgewingstoestande kan reageer. Indien hulle nie die fotosinteseproses kan kontroleer en reguleer tydens streskondisies nie, sal dit tot die vorming van hoogs reaktiewe suurstofspesies lei, wat beide die pigmente en proteiene van die fotosintetiese apparaat sal beskadig. Lig is die primêre energiebron vir fotosintese en daarom is dit noodsaaklik dat plante deurgaans 'n dinamiese balans tussen fotosintese en fotobeskerming moet handhaaf. Karotenoiëde is voorlopers vir die vorming van absisiensuur, maar meer belangrik vir die plant, ook integrale komponente van die fotosintetiese apparaat. Tydens fotosintese word karotenoiëde vir die opneem van lig benodig, terwyl dit ook die fotosintetiese apparaat beskerm wanneer lig 'n versadigingspunt bereik vir fotosintese. Weens die belang van karotenoiëde vir plant- en menslike gesondheid (as Vitamiene A voorlopers), het hierdie studie beoog om gene te isoleer en karakteriseer wat direk of indirek 'n rol in karoteenbiosintese in Vitis vinifera speel. Elf vollengte- en agt gedeeltelike gene is geïsoleer, gekloneer, en gekarakteriseer. Hierdie gene kan in die volgende biosintetiese paaie gegroepeer word: (i) die 1- deoksi-D-xilulose 5-fosfaat (DOXP)/2-C-metiel-D-eritritol-4-fosfaat (MEP) pad (d.w.s. die plastiediese isopenteniel difosfaat biosintetiese pad); (ii) die mevalonaat pad (d.w.s. the sitosoliese/mitokondriale IPP biosintetiese pad); (iii) die karotenoiëd biosintetiese pad; (iv) die absisiensuur biosintetiese pad (as 'n afbraak produk van karotenoiëde) en die algemene isoprenoïed bisintetiese paaie (as voorlopers van karotenoiëde ). Die vollengte gene (d.w.s. vanaf die geskatte ATG tot die STOP kodon) van DOXP-sintase (DXS), 4-hidroksi-3-metielbut-2-eniel difosfaatreduktase (lytB), IPPisomerase (IPI), 3-hidroksi-3-metielglutariel koensiem A sintase (HMGS), fitoeën sintase (PSY), likopeen p-siklase (LBCY), p-karoteen hidroksilase (BCH), zeaxantien oksidase (ZEP), 9-cis-epoksi karotenoiëd dioksigenase (NCED), farnesiel difosfaat sintase (FPS)en geranielgeraniel difosfaat sintase (GGPS) is met behulp van. RTPKR vanaf eDNA geïsoleer. Die vollengte genomiese kopieë en die verwagte promotors van die DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, NCED and ZEP gene is ook geïsoleer d.m.v. die opstel en sifting van subgenomiese biblioteke. Vergelykende analises van die genoom- en eDNA kopieë het insiggewende data oor die genomiese rangskikking van die gene, insluitende die intron-ekson setels in V. vinifera gelewer. Die kopiegetalle van DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, NCED en ZEP is bepaal. DXS, PSY, BCH en ZEP is in die Vitis-genoom as enkel kopieë teenwoordig, terwyl LBCYen NCED twee en drie kopieë, repektiewelik, beslaan. Die transkipsionele aktiwiteit van die verwagte promotors van ses van die geïsoleerde gene (naamlik DXS, PSY, LBCY, BCH, ZEP en NCED) is d.m.v. 'n tydelike verklikkergeentoets ondersoek. Geeneen van die promotors het die transkripsie van die verklikkergeen bemiddel nie. Die transkripsie van die gene is egter wel bewys deur van northernhibridisasies en/of RT-PKR gebruik te maak. Die promotors van hierdie gene kan dus as transkipsioneel aktief beskou word. Voorlopige uitdrukkingsprofiele van PSY, LBCY, BCH, en ZEP is in verskillende plantorgane bepaal; die profiele was deurgaans hoër in fotosinteties aktiewe weefsels. Die uitdrukkingsprofiele van die gene is verder ook in reaksie op verskillende induktiewe behandelings (absisiensuur, NaCI en beskadiging) bepaal. Vyf van die vollengte gene (IPI, GGPS, PSY, LBCYen BCH) is funksioneel bewys in 'n bakteriese funksionele kleurkomplementasiesisteem. In silico analises van die afgeleide proteïene van al elf geïsoleerde gene het 'n hoë vlak van homologie met ooreenstemende proteiene van ander plantspesies getoon. Gekonserveerde domeine is ook in die proteïensekwense van die geïsoleerde gene teenwoordig. Hierdie proteïene het deurgaans dieselfde domeinprofiele vertoontoon as homoloë in ander spesies (bakterieë, alge en plante). Die sub-sellulêre teikening van die gene kon voorspel word deur die seinpeptiede in die proteiensekwense te eien. Aangesien hierdie gene betrokke is by biosintetiese paaie wat in diskrete kompartemente plaasvind; is die sub-selluiêre lokalisering van hierdie proteïene voorspelbaar. Die karotenoïed biosintetiese gene (PSY, LBCY, BCH en ZEP), die absisiensuur biosintetiese geen, NCED, sowel as die DOXP/MEP pad se gene (DXS, lytB en IPI) kom almal in die chloroplast voor. Die mevalonaatpadgeen, HMGS, word na beide die sitosol en die mitokondria geteiken, terwyl die algemene isoprenoïed voorlopergene, FPS en GGPS, onderskeidelik na die sitosol en die chloroplast geteiken word. Die verkreë voorspellings stem met die lokalisering van die biosintetiese paaie in die selooreen. Om ons kennis rakende karotenoïed biosintese en veral hulle funksie(s) in plante te verbreed, het ons een van die geïsoleerde gene, BCH, in die model plant, Nicotiana tabacum, konstitutief ooruitgedruk. Plante wat die BCH geen in die "sense" orientasie uitgedruk het, kon normale fotosintetiese aktiwiteit handhaaf onder kondisies wat foto-inhibisie en foto-osidatiewe skade in die ongetransformeerde kontrole plante veroorsaak het. Hierdie resultaat is met chlorofil fluoresensie analises aangetoon terwyl dit met CO2 assimilasie- en huidmondjie geleidingseksperimente bevestig is. Chlorofil fluoresensie metings het aangetoon dat die beskermingsvermoë van die transgeniese plante verhoog is, en dit dan die plante in staat stelom fotosintetese te handhaaf onder streskondisies van hoë lig. Proteïen analises het aangetoon dat 'n integrale fotosintetiese proteien, die 01 proteïen, word veral deur die verhoogde zeaxantien vlakke in die BCH transgeniese plante beskerm. Plante wat verminderde zeaxantien vlakke gehad het, weens die konstitutiewe ooruitdrukking van die BCH geen in die anti-"sense" orientasie, het die teenoorgestelde bewys. Met ander woorde. laer BCH vlakke (en dus laer zeaxantien vlakke) het tot plante wat meer vatbaar was vir hoë lig geïnduseerde stress gelei. Hierdie resultate het die essensiële beskermende rol wat karotenoiede tydens fotosintese speel, uitgelig. Die vermoë om hierdie beskermende meganisme te manipuleer in transgenies plante het aangetoon dat die sisteem in plante, alhoewel effektief, nie optimaal is nie. Enige verbetering in 'n plant se inherente vermoë om streskondisies te weerstaan sal die plant se algemene gesondheid en dus produktiwiteit beïnvloed. As sulks sal hierdie in meeste gewasspesies toepassing vind. Hierdie studie beskryf die isolering en karakterisering van gene wat direk, of indirek, by karotenoïedbiosintese betrokke is. Verdere studies, en veral die manipulering van hierdie gene in model plante, sal die fisiologiese rol van spesifieke karotenoïeede in fotosintese, en die plant as 'n geheel, ontrafel.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grapevine leafroll is one of the most damaging viral diseases that affect many viticultural regions of the world. Numerous reports over the last few years have associated closterovirus-like particles with leafroll disease. To date, eight serologically distinct closteroviruses have been isolated from leafroll infected vines, of which grapevine leafroll associated closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) is the best characterized. Virus resistance in transgenic plants based on the expression of a virusderived gene is known as pathogen-derived resistance. The viral coat protein (CP) gene, which expresses a structural protein responsible for coating the virus particles, was used in the first demonstration of virus-derived resistance. Coat protein-mediated resistance is currently the most feasible and most widely used method to obtain virus resistance in crop plants. The CP gene of a South African isolate of GLRaV-3 infected grapevine was isolated, cloned and sequenced. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) was extracted from GLRaV-3 infected material and a high molecular weight band, of -18 kb was identified from infected vines. The dsRNA was used as a template in a reverse transcription PCR together with GLRaV-3 CP gene specific primers for the amplification of the GLRaV-3 CP gene (975 bp). The GLRaV-3 CP gene was cloned into the pGem®-T Easy vector. Clones hosting the CP gene in the sense (pLR3CP+) and antisense (pLR3CP-) orientations respectively were obtained. The sequence obtained from these two clones showed 99.26 % similarity to the only other GLRaV-3 CP nucleotide sequence available. The GLRaV-3 CP gene was excised from pLR3CP+ and pLR3CP- and subcloned into a plant expression vector, pCAMBIA 3301 in the sense (pCamBLR3CP+) and antisense (pCamBLR3CP-) orientations respectively, therefore enabling sense and antisense gene expression in transgenic plants. The GLRaV-3 CP gene was also subcloned from pCamBLR3CP+ into another plant expression vector, pCAMBIA 2301 in the sense orientation and designated as pCVSLR3CP+. These three constructs were given to Dr. M. Vivier (Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch) for grapevine transformation experiments. Two of these constructs, pCamBLR3CP+ and pCamBLR3CP- as well as pCAMBIA 3301 were used to transform Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Plants were selected for their ability to withstand the herbicide, Basta. This resistance is due to the presence of a plant selectable marker gene on each of these constructs, known as the bar gene. PCR with GLRaV-3 CP gene specific primers showed no amplification of the GLRaV-3 CP gene in the plants transformed with pCamBLR3CP+ and pCamBLR3CP-. Southern blot analysis with the GLRaV-3 CP gene as hybridization probe showed no signal for these plants, thus confirming the PCR results. PCR with bar gene specific primers showed no amplification of the bar gene in the plants infected with pCAMBIA 3301. The plants transformed with pCamBLR3CP+ and pCamBLR3CP- were also screened for the presence of the bar gene. Three of the eight plants tested showed amplification of the -560 bp bar gene. This result suggests that these plants were transformed with pCAMBIA 3301 (vector without the ligated GLRaV-3 CP gene) and not pCamBLR3CP+ or pCamBLR3CP- as had been expected. This project provides preliminary work for the subsequent transformation of grapevine with the GLRaV-3 CP gene, in an attempt to impart virus resistance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wingerd rolblaar is een van die mees beskadigende virale siektes wat baie wingerd areas in die wêreld aantas. In Aantal verslae oor die afgelope jare het closterovirus partikels met wingerd rolblaar geassosieer. Tot hede, is agt serologiese onderskeibare closterovirusse geïsoleer vanuit geaffekteerde wingerde, waarvan wingerd rolblaar geassosieerde closterovirus-3 (GLRaV-3) die beste gekarakteriseerd is. Virus bestandheid in transgeniese plante gebaseer op die uitdrukking van gene afkomstig vanaf virusse, staan bekend as patogeen-afgeleide weerstand. Die virale kapsule protein (CP) geen vervaardig In strukturele protein wat verantwoordelik is vir die bedekking van die virus partikel. Dié geen was gebruik in die eerste demonstrasie van patogeen-afgeleide weerstand. Kapsuul protein-bemiddelde weerstand is tans die mees praktiese en algemene gebruikte metode om virus weerstand in plant gewasse te verkry. Die CP geen van In Suid Afrikaanse isolaat van GLRaV-3 geïnfekteerde wingerde is geïsoleer, gekloneer en die volgorde is bepaal. Dubbelstring RNA (dsRNA) was uit GLRaV-3 geïnfekteerde materiaal geëkstraheer en In hoë molekulêre gewig band van -18 kb is geïdentifiseer. Die dsRNA is gebruik as In templaat vir In omgekeerde transkripsie PKR saam met GLRaV-3 CP geen spesifieke inleiers vir die amplifikasie van die GLRaV-3 CP geen (975 bp). Die GLRaV-3 CP geen is gekloneer in die pGem®-T Easy vektor. Klone met die CP geen in die sin (pLR3CP+) en teensin (pLR3CP-) oriëntasies respektiewelik is verkry. Die volgorde wat verkry is vanuit hierdie twee klone dui op In 99.26 % ooreenstemming met die enigste ander GLRaV-3 CP geen volgorde wat beskikbaar is. Die GLRaV-3 CP geen is uit pLR3CP+ en pLR3CP- gesny en is gesubkloneer in In plant ekspressie vektor, pCAMBIA 3301 in die sin (pCamBLR3CP+) en teensin (pCamBLR3CP-) oriëntasies respektiewelik, wat die sin en teensin geen ekspressie in transgeniese plante in staat stel. Die GLRaV-3 CP geen was ook gesubkloneer vanaf pCamBLR3CP+ in In ander plant ekspressie vektor, pCAMBIA 2301 in die sin orientasie en is as pCVSLR3CP+ benoem. Hierdie drie konstruksies is aan Dr. M. Vivier (Instituut vir Wyn Biotegnologie, Stellenbosch) gegee vir wingerd transformasie eksperimente. Twee van hierdie konstruksies, pCamBLR3CP+ en pCamBLR3CP- asook pCAMBIA 3301 is gebruik om Nicotiana tabacum deur middel van Agrobacterium tumefaciens-bemiddelde transformasie te transformeer. Plante is geselekteer vir hul vermoë om die onkruiddoder, Basta, te weerstaan. Die teenwoordigheid van die plant selekteerbare merker geen, bar, op elke konstruksie lui tot dié weerstand. Die plante wat getransformeer is met pCamBLR3CP+ en pCamBLR3CP- is deur PKR saam met die GLRaV-3 CP geen spesifieke inleiers getoets, en geen amplifikasie van die GLRaV-3 CP geen is getoon nie. Southern blot analise met die GLRaV-3 CP geen as hibridisasie peiler het geen sein gewys vir hierdie plante nie, wat die PKR resultate bevestig. Die plante wat getransformeer is met pCAMBIA 3301 is deur PKR saam met die bar geen spesifieke inleiers getoets, en geen amplifikasie van die bar geen is getoon nie. Die plante wat getransformeer is met pCamBLR3CP+ en pCamBLR3CP- is ook getoets vir die teenwoordigheid vir die bar geen. Drie van die agt plante wat getoets is, het amplifikasie van die -560 bp bar geen getoon. Hierdie onverwagte resultate stel voor dat dié plante met pCAMBIA 3301 (vektor sonder die geligeerde GLRaV-3 CP geen) en nie met pCamBLR3CP+ en pCamBLR3CPgetransformeer is nie. Hierdie projek verskaf voorlopige werk vir die daaropvolgende transformasie van wingerd met die GLRaV-3 CP geen in 'n poging om virus bestandheid te verskaf.