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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346407
Title: Optimization of hairy root induction in solanum tuberosum

Author
item SI, MOE HNIN - Washington State University
item Navarre, Duroy - Roy

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2018
Publication Date: 12/10/2018
Citation: Si, M., Navarre, D.A. 2018. Optimization of hairy root induction in solanum tuberosum. American Journal of Potato Research. 95(6):650-658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-9671-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-9671-z

Interpretive Summary: Root metabolism is a critical component of complex potato processes including disease and pest resistance. However, root metabolism can be difficult to study, which impedes the development of superior cultivars and management strategies. ARS scientists at Prosser, WA and Washington State University developed a method using the bacterium Agrobacterium rhizogenes and tuber discs that has a 97% transformation efficiency and is quicker than other methods. This method will allow improved analysis of the role of root metabolism and gene function in disease/pest resistance and in other plant processes, and will make it easier to develop new, superior potato cultivars.

Technical Abstract: An efficient protocol for hairy root induction in Solanum tuberosum was established using Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Transformation of Desiree was more efficient than with Shepody or Purple Majesty. Transformation efficiency of Desiree tuber discs (97% transformation efficiency) was higher in comparison to root (67% transformation efficiency), stem (61% transformation efficiency) and leaf (14% transformation efficiency) explants. Bacterial density, culture parameters, explant type, and genotype influenced the transformation efficiency, as well as the growth of hairy roots. Hairy root transformation efficiency in explants treated with acetosyringone was enhanced from 72% to 89% in Purple Majesty tubers and 56% to 80% in roots during co-cultivation. The growth rate of hairy roots from tuber discs was about 5 times greater than that of hairy roots from leaves. Tuber hairy roots were highly resistant to kanamycin. This study describes the efficient generation of hairy roots in different potato tissues and genotypes that can provide a fast method to generate transformed tissue or be used for the production of secondary metabolites.