Abstract
A maize bundle sheath-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) gene was introduced into tobacco under the control of tomato rbcs-3C promoter with its transit peptide. The expression of the gene in transgenic tobacco was detected and the growth of the transgenic plants was enhanced under our test conditions. The enhanced growth was evidenced by increases in leaf fresh weight and leaf area. The growth of the transgenic tobacco showed some correlation with PCK protein level in the plants. Our measurements showed that relative chlorophyll content in transgenic tobacco was increased and their photosynthetic activity was also enhanced under higher light intensity and higher CO2 concentration. The increase in the contents of starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose was observed in the mature leaf of the transgenic tobacco.