Abstract
The object of our studies is alfalfa that belongs to Leguminosae, which have essential role in the nitrogen cycle of the life and in agriculture as well. In order to grow alfalfa more agronomically and safely we are going to isolate a gene responsible for the resistence against a fungal pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis), transfer this gene into agronomically important lines. In addition we explore the nature of the inheritence (allelism, dominant-recessive) of the resistence genes identified so far in diploid and tetraploid alfalfa lines, as well as alfalfa lines resistent to Fusarium and ready for cultivar breeding will be prepared. In the basic research part of the project we identify new genes involved in the symbiotic nitrogen fixation and study them and their gene products in microarray hybridizations and with the help of yeast two-hybrid system. During the applied research part of the project we launch the series of experiments the aim of which is to introduce and express the genes necessary for the formation of symbiotic nodules on the roots of non-legume plants. For this purpose we are going to introduce the already known genes into model plants (Nicotiana tabacum és Arabidopsis thaliana) and study their expression and effects in the transgenic plants.
Hungary