Open AccessGenotype, Explant and Growth Regulator Effects in the Determination of Adventitious Regeneratin in Curcurbits, in Aid of Genetic Transformation
Author(s) -
D. J. Gray,
Victor Gaba
Publication year - 1992
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.32747/1992.7561060.bard
Subject(s) - melon , transformation (genetics) , explant culture , regeneration (biology) , biology , meristem , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , agrobacterium , tissue culture , shoot , horticulture , in vitro , gene , genetics
The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the in vitro regeneration process in watermelon and melon to enable the development of genetic transformation systems. The objectives were met and additional progress, unplanned during the original proposal, was made. Organogenic regeneration in vitro was studied in both melon and watermelon. Genotype played a significant role in regeneration. In melon, epidermal cells were responsible for most regeneration. Methods to obtain in vitro-derived watermelon tetraploids, needed for seedless varieties, were developed. The culture systems were refined so that they could be routinely used for transformation. Particle guns were constructed and Agrobacterium strains were obtained to study the effect of transformation procedures on culture system performance, allowing refinement of transformation protocols. The culture systems were shown to enable the stable transformation of both crops, allowing their future use for insertion of agriculturally-important genes. In addition, we showed that shoot apical meristems might be suitable target tissue for transformation and allow a wider range of genotypes to be used, which is needed for crops as diverse as cucurbits.