ARS | Publication request: A high-throughput transformation system in plum (Prunus domestica L.) provides a powerful tool for functional genomics in Rosaceae

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 10, 2007
Publication Date: January 12, 2008
Citation: Petri, C., Webb, K.K., Dardick, C.D., Scorza, R. 2008. A high-throughput transformation system in plum (Prunus domestica L.) provides a powerful tool for functional genomics in Rosaceae [abstract]. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. p. 289.

Technical Abstract: An improved Agrobacterium-mediated protocol in plum (Prunus domestica L.) is described, whereby, the addition of 2,4-D to the regeneration media increased the regeneration efficiency of independent transgenic plants up to 10 fold over previous reports. DNA blot analysis of putative transgenic shoots revealed transformation efficiencies of up to 42%. The timing in each step of the regeneration/transformation process has been optimized producing self-rooted transgenic plants in approximately six months. The high transformation rates coupled with the rapid plant establishment methodology make it possible to utilize plum transformation for the introduction of agronomically useful genes into this species. Moreover, we suggest that with this simple and rapid plum transformation protocol, this species may be used as a model plant for functional genomics studies in Prunus spp. and Rosaceaous species, in general, through the utilization of hairpin gene constructs that induce post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). In addition, transformation with genes that promote early flowering such as leafy, apetala1, or ptft1 may reduce the time to flowering increasing the utility of the plum system for evaluating flower and fruit specific gene functions.