615 Triono Bagus (Phnotypic).cdr PHENOTYPIC AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF M HOOTS D IN TRANSGENIC ULTIS EVELOPMENT Phalaenopsis amabilis ARBORING 35S::KNAT1 (L.) BLUME H (KNOTTED-LIKE Arabidopsis thaliana 1) *TRIONO BAGUS SAPUTRO , ENDANG SEMIARTI and1 2 3 AZIZ PURWANTORO 1 Departement of Biology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia 2Faculty , of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia 3 Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia Received 28 January 2017/Accepted 07 June 2017 ABSTRACT Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume is one of Indonesian natural orchid which has an aesthetic flower and possesses high economic value. The low multiplication rate and long periods of life cycle are the main obstacles to conventionally propagate this orchid. The aims of this research were to analyze the stability of transgenic plant P. amabilis harboring 35S::KNAT1 based on morpho-genomic characterization. KNAT1 gene is reported as a gene that involved in the shoot formation, and it had been successfully introduced into Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume genome. After seven times regeneration, the confirmation of the transgene existence in the genom is needed to ensure whether the plant could consistently maintain the transgene in its genome and to characterize the shoot development. The experiment was carried out in 3 steps: 1) Co-integration analysis of 35S::KNAT1 into P. amabilis genom; 2) Phenotypic analysis on the multiplication rate, morphological variation and venation pattern; and 3) Protein profile analysis of transgenic plants. The results showed that the survival rate of putative transgenic was 58.7% on NP0 medium and 62.5% on NP SIM medium. PCR analysis confirmed that 82.5% transgenic growth on NP0 and 93.33% on NP SIM contained DNA fragment of KNAT1 gene, NPTII gene and trnL-F intergenic spacer, indicating that those plants are positive transgenic. The 35S::KNAT1 transgenes and phytohormone were independently involved in multishoots formation of P. amabilis transgenic plants. The phenotypic of plantlets were classified into six main criteria, i.e. normal shape, lobed leaves, rosette, elongated stem, cup shoot and widened leaves. The normal type was the most abundant type of variation (± 29%) in both medium. Protein profile showed that all transgenic plants produced 45,8 kDa protein and that was equivalent with molecular weight of KNAT1 protein. Taken together, all those data indicated that 35S::KNAT1 transgene were consistently integrated into the transgenic plant genome. Keywords: 35S::KNAT1 (Knotted-Like Arabidopsis thaliana 1), multishoots, Phalaenopsis amabilis, transgene INTRODUCTION Orchid is an ornamental plant that has high economic value and high market sharing (da Silva 2013). Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume or known as moth orchid is an Indonesian native plants (Semiarti et al. 2007). P. amabilis commonly used as parental line for breeding purpose in terms to produce superior hybrid varieties (Semiarti et al. 2011a). P. amabilis is a monopodial orchid that having single growth node that emerging from the central part of a plant (Weissenhofer et al. 2013). For large scale propagation, monopodial orchid has many difficulties to meet the market demands since the orchid only has one single stem (Dresler 1981). The long periods of life cycle, 2-3 years, are also the emerging challenge in the cultivation of P. amabilis (Mercuriani et al. 2012). The damages of natural habitat and collection activities for commercial purposes are also significantly decline the amount of this orchid in nature (Weissenhofer et al. 2013). Genetic engineering using modified DNA is needed to obtain transgenic plants having better characters compared to its parental line. The KNAT1 gene (Knooted-like Arabidopsis thaliana 1) * Corresponding author: endsemi@ugm.ac.id; esemiart@gmail.com BIOTROPIA 5 1 8 1 21 Vol. 2 No. , 201 : 1 - DOI: 10.11598/btb.2018.25.1.615 11 from Arabidopsis thaliana plant was successfully inserted into .several plants i.e in Rice (Sakamoto et al 2006), P. (Semiarti et al. 2007), . amabilis Celosia plumosus L The BP/KNAT1 gene (Sun et al. 2011). can be expressed in several spot plants but s in , is primarily expressed in the region around the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and regulates positively SAM development in A. thaliana (Kerstetter & Poethig 1998; Byrne et al. 2000). The expression of inserted transgene can be decreased by its growth condition repetitive and the series of subculture the s. Based on that fact, the stability of transgene function in the transformant sneed to be observed re. The aims of this study we : 1) to study integration existence in transgenic plants; 2) to observe the effect of auxin-cytokinin hormone in SIM medium; 3) to conduct protein profiling of transgenic P. amabilis harboring 35S::KNAT1 transgene. This research is important to maintain the continuous function of transgene in transformant plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Plant Tissue Culture, Faculty of Biology and Gene t i c Eng inee r i ng Labo r a to r y o f Biotechnology PAU UGM. This study used Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume (Java forms) which was inserted with 35S::KNAT1 by Semiarti et al. in 2007. The plant was maintained in in vitro conditions for seven generations before being used as material. The Code of transgenic plants was # 7.121. Media used for the in vitro maintenance was New Phalaenopsis (NP), which was modified by Islam et al. (1998). Selection of Putative Transgenic in Medium Containing Kanamycin Resistance rate of the materials were observed in NP0 medium and shoot induction medium (NP SIM) added with Kanamycin as the selection agent. The concentration of Kanamycin added to the media was 200 ppm. Observations were made three times at the subculture to determine the increment of resistance to Kanamycin at each subculture. The subculture in those two media was observed for 12 weeks. Duration for three observations at the two subcultures was 36 weeks or 9 months. The usage of 200 ppm Kanamycin concentration was based on research conducted by Yu et al. 2001 who was successful in making ( ) selection to gain putative transgenic in orchidaceous plants, Madame Thong-Dendrobium In. Confirmation of KNAT1 gene co-integration into P. amabilis genome using PCR techniques The surviving plants in media containing 200 ppm Kanamycin selection agent was used in subsequent observations. Only plants that have survived in the last subculture were subjected into the confirmation of transgene integration, 35S::KNAT1. Plant DNA genome were isolated using CTAB 3% methods (Saputro et al. 2016; Hasan et al. 2012) and then analyzed using PCR. PCR techniques were conducted using three primer pairs i.e. KNAT1 primers, NPTII primers and trnL-F primers. KNAT1 gene primer pairs, KNAT1F1 (5'-CCGAGAATTGCTTCCG ATCTG-'3) and KNAT1R1 (5'-CTTGAGTT CCCGATCTTCGGC-'3), NPTII gene primer pairs, NPTII F (5'-CACGACGGGCGTTCCTT GC-'3), NPTIIR (5'-GTGGTCGAATGGGCA GGTAGC-'3), and universal primers for intergenic spacer t rnL-F, t rnL.e (5 ' - GGTTCAAGTCCCTCTATCCC-'3) and trnL.f (5'-ATTTGAACTGGTGACACGAG-'3). PCR were conducted using PCR thermocycler BOECO THERMAL CYCLER TC-SQ. PCR performed with this following system: pre-denaturation at 94 °C for 5 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of denaturation: annealing: extension (94 °C for 1 minute, 55 °C for 1 minute and 72 °C for 2 minutes). The next stage was the post extension at 72 °C for 5 minutes and the final stage was cooling (hold) at 4 °C for 15 minutes. PCR products were then separated with 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, colored using Ethidium Bromide and visualized under UV- transluminator. Multiplication Rate of Transgenic Plant Harboring 35S::KNAT1 onto Medium NP0 and NP SIM The subculture plantlet in previous studies was divided based on its performance. Plants that were able to show the formation of multiple shoots were used as starting materials. 12 BIOTROPIA Vol. 25 No. 1, 2018 mixture of 14% glacial acetic acid (CH COOH) : 3 84% ethanol (C H OH) solution. The leaves 2 5 were then incubated overnight at room temperature. The specimens were then dehydrated twice in 70% ethanol (1 hour for each dehydration) and twice in 99.5% ethanol (1 hour for each dehydration). Furthermore, the specimen was immersed overnight in a mixture of chloral hydrate clearing solution (C H Cl O ). 2 3 3 2 Leaf specimens were finally observed under a n ESCHENBACH microscope with 20x magnification & . (Berleth Jurgen 1993) Protein Profile Analysis of 35S::KNAT1 Transgenic Plants using SDS-PAGE Phalaenopsis amabilis leaves were cut. Leaves sample was determined to be 150 mg. The samples were added with 200 mL PBS and finely ground until homogen. All homogenates were collected and then put into a sterile tube. Homogenates were centrifuged at 6000G for 5 minutes. The supernatant was transferred into a new sterile tube and stored at 4 °C. Protein profile of plants were analyzed using SDS-PAGE (Holme & Peck 1998). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Selection of Putative Transgenic in Medium Containing Kanamycin The selection process to ensure the candidate of transgenic plants was conducted by growing all candidates in NP0 and NP SIM media containing 200 ppm Kanamycin. Detail information of the resistance is shown in Table 1. The data indicated that the percentage of surviving plants were improved along the subculture process. Furthermore, the obtained materials were then planted onto NP0 and NPSIM media containing Kanamycin as the selection agent. The concentration of Kanamycin added into the media was 200 ppm. Subculture process was performed 3 times, 12 weeks each with total duration of 36 weeks or 9 months. Growth Patterns of Transgenic Plants harboring 35S ::KNAT1 The observation of growth patterns were conducted by observing the formation of shoots in transgenic and non-transgenic plants. Non- transgenic plants were grown on NP0 and NP SIM media without Kanamycin; while transgenic plants were grown on NP0 and NP SIM media containing Kanamycin. Shoot formation was observed every two weeks to determine the average of shoot formation. Observations were made on the last subculture, performed on five non-transgenic and transgenic plants. Phenotypic Alteration in Transgenic Plants The population of putative transgenic plants obtained in the last subculture was classified based on their morphological variations. The classification of morphological variation was based on the shape change of plant organs compared with non-transgenic plants. The observation of variation was separated based on grown medium. The Effect of KNAT1 Genes into the Alteration of Venation Pattern of Transgenic Plants The first leaves of non-transgenic and transgenic were fixed in a Phalaenopsis amabilis 13 Phenotypic and molecular characterization in transgenic Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume - Saputro et al. Table 1 Resistance level of transgenic P. amabilis and non-transgenic P. amabilis toward Kanamycin after 12 weeks observation Phase Resistance toward Kanamycin (%) NP0 NP SIM Non Transgenic Transgenic Non Transgenic Transgenic 8th Subculture 0 17.95 0 15.38 9th Subculture 0 48.15 0 46.88 10th Subculture 0 58.70 0 62.50 The resistance of putative transgenic in media containing Kanamycin were caused by expression of selectable marker gene i.e. NPTII gene. The increment of plant resistance to Kanamycin is shown in Table 1. Confirmatio of Transgene 35S::KNAT1 Co-n integration on the P. amabilis Genome using PCR Technique trnL-F amplicon was produced in all lines (Fig. 1). Line A and B were the example of control (non-transgenic plants). Line C and D were transgenic plants having only NPTII gene attached on its genome. Line E and F had three DNA fragment i.e. 200 bp (NPTII gene), 500 bp s (trnL-F intergenic spacer) and 616 bp of KNAT1 gene. T hese plants considered as putative transgenic ran. The putative t sgenic having those three bands was determined as positive transformant. D percentage of positive etail transformant is show in Table 2.n wasThe co-integration percentage shown in Table 2. The non-transgenic plants were used as a control an show zero percentage of co-d ed integration. The highest percentage 93 33% of . were obtained by putative transgenic grown in NP SIM. utative Co-integration percentage of p transgenic planted onto NP0 medium only was 85 50%. . 14 BIOTROPIA Vol. 25 No. 1, 2018 FEDCBAM MFEDCBAM M Figure 1 Electrophoregrams of PCR result: M = Gene ruler of DNA Ladder Mix; A-B = non-transgenic of P. amabilis; C-D = fragment of NPTII gene; E-F = positive transgenic Table 2 Co-integration percentage of 35::KNAT1 transgene into P. amabilis chromosomes Plants Medium Genotype character Co-integration percentage (%) trnL-F trnL-F, NPTII trnL-F, NPTII, KNAT1 Non transgenic NP0 10 0 0 0/10 (0.00%) NP SIM 10 0 0 0/10 (0.00%) Putative transgenic NP0 40 7 33 33/40 (82.50%) NP SIM 30 2 28 28/30 (93.33%) Multiplication Rate of Transgenic Plant 35S::KNAT1 onto NP0 and NPSIM Media Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM) requires a high concentration of cytokinin and low concentration of gibberellin to maintain its growth and meristematic function to continuously produce indeterminate organs. This condition can be achieved by introducing KNAT1 gene. Results of this study showed that transgenic plants remained thto have high stability in the 10 subculture. The stabilizing function of transgen in transformant can be observed by its ability to produce multi shoots. The multiplication rate of P. amabilis (transgenic or non-transgenic) was relatively higher when planted onto SIM medium compared to NP0 medium. The amount of shoots formation is shown in Table 3. NP SIM medium provided higher shoot formation compared to NP0 medium. Transgenic plants also provided higher shoots formation compared to non-transgenic plants. Transformant planted in NP0 medium showed 398% in multiplication rate, while transformant planted in NP SIM showed higher rate (567%). Those results indicated that cytokinin-added medium was more suitable to provide large amount of positive transformant. Statistical analysis showed that NP SIM medium was significantly provided higher shoot formation compared to NP0 medium. Transgenic plants also provided higher shoots formation compared to non-transgenic plants. Furthermore, the combination of those two factors did not show any interactions in increasing the shoots formation. Growth Pattern in Transgenic Plant Harboring 35S::KNAT1 Plants inserted with 35S::KNAT1 produced earlier shoots compared to the non-transgenic plants (Table 4). In transgenic plant, the shoots were already formed in four weeks after planting, while the non-transgenic plants started to produce shoot in six weeks after planting. In NP SIM medium, the addition of new shoots was higher than in NP0 medium. 15 Phenotypic and molecular characterization in transgenic Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume - Saputro et al. Table 3 Shoot formation of P. amabilis within three subcultures Plants Medium Number of planted explants After Number of dead plants Number of surviving plants Number of shoots Multiplication rate (%) 8th Subculture Non-transgenic NP0 30 0 30 30 100.00 NP SIM 30 0 30 49 163.33 Putative transgenic NP0+ Kanamycin 39 32 7 27 385.71 NP SIM+ Kanamycin 39 33 6 32 533.33 9th Subculture Non-transgenic NP0 30 0 30 30 100.00 NP SIM 30 0 30 62 206.67 Putative transgenic NP0+ Kanamycin 27 14 13 54 415.38 NP SIM+ Kanamycin 32 17 15 83 553.33 10th Subculture Non-transgenic NP0 30 0 30 33 110.00 NP SIM 30 0 30 53 176.67 Putative transgenic NP0+ Kanamycin 46 19 27 106 392.59 NP SIM+ Kanamycin 24 9 15 74 493.33 16 BIOTROPIA Vol. 25 No. 1, 2018 KNAT1 gene was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana plant. KNAT1 gene is expressed in Shoot Apical Meristem (Jackson et al. 1994) which is the indeterminate organ. KNAT1 genes are down regulated when leaf initiation process occurrs. These expression pattern describes the important role of KNAT1 gene to maintain an indeterminate form of meristem and repressing the differentiation process (Byrne et al. 2000). KNAT1 gene was inserted in P. amabilis under the control of 35S strong promoter from Cauliflower Mozaic virus (CaMV) causing the occurrence of over-expression of KNAT1 gene. Over-expression of KNAT1 gene in Arabidopsis was known to cause the formation of new shoots on upper and lower surfaces of Arabidopsis leaves, an alternation of the normal leaf shapes into lobed shape (Lincoln 1994; et al. Chuck 1996) as well as in tobacco plants et al. (Nishimura 2000). Insertion of KNAT1 et al. gene into was expected for further P. amabilis observation about the function of KNAT1 gene and its influence on the shoot growth. The multiplication level of shoots is shown in Figure 2. There was only one shoot formed in non- transgenic plants, while the transgenic plants were able to produce multishoots. Phenotypic Alteration in Transgenic Plants Over-expression of KNAT1 gene leads to many changes in plant . Over-phenotype expression of KNAT1 gene causes leaf alteration, ectopic meristems, inflorescence-like structures form , , ation dwarfishness apical dominance loss and generation of meristematic tissues in leaf ; (Williams-Carrier et al. 1997 Sun et al. 2011). The usage of KNAT1 gene as a selectable marker was successfully conducted by Luo (200 ).et al. 6 In this study, an interesting phenomenon was also found i.e. six alterations of plant morphology occurred in plants inserted with KNAT1 gene. Those six alternations were Table 4 Shoot formation of P. amabilis Plants Medium Numbe r of shoots Number of new shoots in weeks after planting 0 2 4 6 8 10 Non-transgenic NP0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 NP SIM 5 0 0 0 1 1 1 Transgenic NP0+Kanamycin 5 0 0 1 2 2 3 NP SIM+Kanamycin 5 0 0 2 3 4 4 2 1084 6 12 16 A B 2 1084 6 12 162 1084 6 12 16 A B Figure 2 Growth pattern in shoot formation of Phalaenopsis amabilis 16 weeks after planting: A. Non-transgenic plants; B. Transgenic plants using 35S::KNAT1 (scale for 2 - 6 weeks = 1 mm; scale for 8 - 16 weeks = 0.5 cm) 17 normal leaves, lobed leaves, rosette, elongated stem, cup-shoot and widened leaves. In this study, the normal leaves was the most abundant variants found. It is important to obtain information whether the alterations are inherited in P. amabilis progenies. In lettuce plants (Frugis et al. 2001 ) and Celosia plumosus (Sun et al. 2011), the harboring KNAT1 gene were reported to inherit morphological alteration of the first generation of transformant plants (T0). The selfing results showed that 75% of filial (T1) denoting the alteration in the shape of its first leaf, but not changing the percentage of seed germination, the emergence time of the first leaf and its phylotaxis (Frugis et al. 2001). All the variations in this research were caused by the over-expression of 35S::KNAT1 (Tabel 5). Venation patterns of non-transgenic and transgenic plants were observed to ensure the anatomic performance of leaves. The results showed that the alteration also occurred in the venation of leaf (Fig. 3). The alterations were detected from the very early stage of leaf development. The over-expression of KNAT1 gene are able to disturb hormon concentration in SAM leading to imbalance status. The details of alteration occurred every two weeks are shown in Figure.3. In lobed leaves variant, the venation pattern was also shown. The results showed that there was a fundamental change concerning the Phenotypic and molecular characterization in transgenic Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume - Saputro et al. Table 5 Percentage of morphological variation in P. amabilis transgenic 35S::KNAT1 Plant phenotype Variations Number of plants Normal (%) Lobed leaves (%) Rosette (%) Elongated stem (%) Cup shoot (%) Widened leaves (%) NP0 106 29.25 11.32 14.15 9.43 19.81 16.04 NP SIM 74 29.73 13.51 12.16 9.46 29.73 5.41 Figure 3 The differentiation of leaf venation patterns observed in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks: A. Regular (normal) venation of leaf; B. Irregular venation (scale = 0.5 cm) 18 BIOTROPIA Vol. 25 No. 1, 2018 development of leaf vascularization compared to non-transgenic plants. The appearance of lobus in leaf's lamina causes the irregular venation. Furthermore, in severe level, the alterations produce the emergence of two mid-vein in one leaf's lamina. Protein Profile Analysis of 35S::KNAT1 Transgenic Plants using SDS-PAGE Materials used in this profiling is the proven materials that carry KNAT1 gene and represents various types of morphological variants. KNAT1 protein contains 398 amino acids with 45,835.3 Daltons. One hundred percent of tested plants all had bands of 45 kDa in size indicating KNAT1 protein (Fig. 4). Different intensity was caused by P. amabilis growth phase. Co-integration Analysis of 35S::KNAT1 Transgen into Phalaenopsis amabilis Genome The material used in this study is Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid which had been transformed with plasmid containing the construction of KNAT1 cDNA gene (Knooted-like Arabidopsis thaliana 1). Transformation of 35S::KNAT1 on Moth orchid mediated by Agrobacterium tumafaciens was established Semiarti et al (2011b). by . The results of regeneration showed that not all of plants are positive transgenic harboring 35S::KNAT1 plants in their genome. This can be caused phenomenon by many factors mong others, chimera is the . A main factor causing diversity in plant genome. Chimera may occur in the transformation because not the whole plant cells are being infected by Agrobacterium tumafaciens during co-cultivation. Chimera can be reduced by conducting repetitive subcultures on selection medium. Selection marker gene which is often used in the plasmid construction is an antibiotic resistance gene or herbicide resistance gene. The selection marker gene that were used in the plasmid construction in this purpose is an antibiotic resistance gene, NPTII (Neomycin Phosphotransferase) gene. NPT gene showed high resistance over Kanamycin antibiotic. Kanamycin gene expression lead a transgenic P. amabilis to have a survival performance in the medium containing Kanamycin, while non transgenic plants could not survive. The surviving plants in antibiotic selection medium were isolated using its genome DNA and subjected to PCR. The results obtained from PCR showed that not all surviving plants on selection medium was transgenic plants harboring 35S::KNAT1, sometimes only harboring NPTII gene. Plants carry only the antibiotic resistance genes because the plants have defense mechanisms that prevent the introduction of foreign objects. When infected to the plant cells, T-DNA was protected by the complex of VirE2 and VIP1 (VirE2 Protein Interacting). The Figure 4 Electrophoregrams of P. amabilis protein profile: M = protein marker, broad range, Biolabs; NT = Non transgenic; A = normal variant of transgenic plants; B = lobed leaves; C = rossete; D = elongated stem; E = widened leaves; F = cup shoot 19 integration process requires T-DNA in free condition which means that T-DNA does not form a complex with VirE2 and VIP1. The VirE2 and VIP1 need to be eliminated first. VirE2 Protein is required in the T-DNA transfer process (Rossi et al. 1996). Plants activates the F-box proteins associated with the defense i.e. VBF (VIP1-F-box binding protein). VBF protein makes the complex VirE2 and VIP1 becomes unstable through the mechanism of proteosom degradation mediator by SCF mediator (Skp, Cullin, F-box containing complex). The ideal mechanism to eliminate the VirE2 and VIP protein occurs when T-complex is already approach the target chromatins. On the other hand, when the elimination process occurs just before T-complex approaches the chromatin, the transient expression and T-DNA degradation by nuclease and several part of those construction gene are integrated into plants genomes (Zaltsman et al 2010).. Protein profile of transgenic plants indicates that protein with molecular weight of 45.8 KDa exists. This protein is predicted as KNAT1 protein. The results showed that all transformant plants produce KNAT1 protein. were able to Non-transformant plants u to produce were nable KNAT1 protein. KNAT1 protein is a transcription factor for plant growth, so the high amount of KNAT1 protein changes the hormonal balance in SAM region. SAM plays a dynamic and pivotal role in guiding plant growth. The disproportion of hormonal concentration may lead to morphological alteration in transformant plant. Hormone concentration was regulated in the synthesis process, transport and conversion into a more or less active form (Veit 2009). Auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin together are known as the hormones having key role in determining plant morphology. Auxin and gibberellin are the mandatory hormones mediating the formation of lateral organs or determinate organs. Cytokinin has contrary activities and associated with indeterminate growth programs of cells, including maintaining the number of indeterminate cell population in SAM. The center region of SAM has relatively low concentration of GA caused by high concentration of KNAT1 protein which represses gene transcription encoding GA20 oxidase (Hay et al. 2002). Bolduc and Hake (2009) concluded that the regulator elements in the near 3' end of first introns of GA2OX1 gene binded by KN1 in maize. KNOX proteins on tobacco plants, NTH15 protein can directly suppress the transcription of the Ntc12 gene, which is the gene that encodes GA20-oxidase required in GA biosynthesis (Sakamoto et al. 2001). KNAT1 gene activity in the central zone of SAM is able to increase the concentration of cytokinin. The increment of cytokinin due to KNOX protein is capable to activate isopentenyl transferase genes. Isopentenyl transferase involves in catalyzing a step in the cytokinin biosynthesis. Higuchi et al. (2004) reported that the -over expression of gene that encoding c cytokinins ytokinins oxidase can decrease concentrations in cells. This condition leads the to reduction of meristem size and is able to initiate the formation of leaf r . and othe tissues On the other hand, in several cases, the decrement of endogenic s vel causcytokinin le es meristem abortion (Werner et al. 2003). KNOX protein is the main regulators controlling hormonal balance, either at dicotyls or monocotyls plants (Sakamoto et al. 2006; Hay et al. 2002). CONCLUSIONS 35S::KNAT1 transgene was consistently integrated with Phalaenopsis amabilis genome until ththe 10 subculture. 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