Abstract
Transgenic rice plants expressing a gene encoding rice PHD-finger type homeodomain protein (RNBP97) homologous to alfalfa Alfin1 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter were generated. Ectopic expression of this gene brought several unusual phenomena to the transformants from the beginning of plant regeneration. Some regenerated shoots indicated necrosis and eventually died during in vitro culture. The leaf blade and sheath of some transplanted transformants formed spots similar to the lesion of hypersensitive response. Furthermore, some transformants were headed panicles within one month of cultivation under the long-day condition, and a half of transplanted transformants was sterile. Root growth enhancement observed in transgenic alfalfa was not occurred in the plumules of T1 transgenic plants.
