Molecular Characterization and Physico-Chemical Analysis of a New Giant Embryo Mutant Allele (ge(t)) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The rice embryo is rich in lipid and protein bodies, bioactive chemicals such as dietary fiber, phytic acids, vitamin B and E, and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) than the endosperm. In this paper, we report a new giant embryo mutant, ge(t), induced from somaclonal variation derived by anther culture in nice. Sequence analysis of Cytochrome P450 of the ge(t) mutant revealed that ge(t) is a new allele of the GE gene with a single point mutation with substitution of amino acid, W-395 to L-395. The weight of the ge(t) mutant embryo was 3.7 times higher than normal embryo. Tocopherol and mineral content were also higher than the previously reported giant embryo rice variety, Keunnun. These results indicated that this new giant embryo rice (ge(t)) offers a promising source of genetic material in improving nutritional quality of nice especially tocopherol, essential minerals, and GABA.