Abstract: Two transgenic plants of Malus robusta were hydroponically planted to test their efficiency to iron-deficiency(iron concentration 10-6mol·L-1), and the tolerance was found in these transgenic plants. Their leaf chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate were much higher than those of control, which showed severe chlorosis under the same condition. The rate of root H+ excretion and ferric-chelate reductase activity increased in transgenic lines and substantially higher than those of control. Scanning photos of root absorption region and root hair by electronic microscope in transgenic lines and non-transgenic plants were different under same iron treatment.

Key words: Malus robusta, LeIRT2, Tolerance to iron-deficiency