Enemies atpeace:Recentprogressin Agrobacterium-mediated cereal transformation

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated plant transformation is a versatile tool for plant genetic engineering following its discovery nearly half a century ago.Numerous modifications were made in its application to increase efficiency,especially in the recalcitrant major cereals plants.Recent breakthroughs in transformation efficiency continue its role as a mainstream technique in CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and gene stacking.These modifications led to higher transformation frequency and lower but more stable transgene copies with the capability to revolutionize modern agriculture.In this review,we provide a brief overview of the history of Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and focus on the most recent progress to improve the system in both the Agrobacterium and the host recipient.A promising future for transformation in biotechnology and agriculture is predicted.

Genetic Transformation of Aloe barbadensis Miller by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Despite the importance of aloe in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, improvement of aloe （Aloe barbadensis Miller） by genetic engineering was seldom reported previously. In this study, regeneration and transformation conditions, including explant selection and surface sterilization, use of different Agrobacterium strains, and co-culture processing, are optimized. The use of 20.0% sodium hypochloride （25 rain） for sterilization was less detrimental to the health of explant than 0.1% mercuric chloride （10 min）. Regeneration frequency from stems was much higher than that from leaves or sheaths. Explants were infected by Agrobacterium （30 rain） in liquid co-cultural medium, and this was followed by three days co-culture on sterile filter papers with light for 10 h per day at 24℃. Histochemical data demonstrated that the transient expression of GUS gene in the stem explants of aloe infected with Agrobacterium strains EHAI05 and C58CI was 80.0% and 30.0%, respectively, suggesting the higher sensitivity of the explants to EHAI05 than to C58C1. Infected tissues were selected using G418 （10.0-25.0 mg/L） to generate transformants. Sixty-seven G418 resistant plantlets were generated from the infected explants. Southern blotting, PCR, and ELISA analyses indicated that the alien gene were successfully transferred into aloe and was expressed in the transgenic plants. This newly established transformation system could be used for the genetic improvement of aloe.

等离子体活化水对根癌土壤杆菌的抑制作用及其对樱花根癌病的防治

以樱花幼苗为试材,使用低温等离子体活化水冷杀菌技术(PAW)对樱花幼苗及其病原菌进行处理,研究了PAW对樱花苗木的抗病作用,以期为PAW在樱花根癌病防治中的应用提供参考依据。结果表明:等离子体活化水能有效地抑制樱花根癌病病菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens的生长,其可以对Agrobacterium tumefaciens的细胞结构造成破坏。CK组樱花幼苗的根瘤发生率为100%,根瘤的平均直径为18.8 mm,处理后的幼苗发病率为56.7%,根瘤的平均直径为8.4 mm。此外,PAW可以提高樱花根系多酚氧化酶(PPO)和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的表达,激活樱花植株的抗性。综上,PAW具有一定的生物防治潜力,可以防御樱花根癌病。

Optimization of Genetic Transformation System of Tobacco K326 Mediated by Agrobacterium

[Objective]The aim was to optimize genetic transformation system in tobacco K326 mediated by Agrobacterium.[Method]The leaf of tobacco aseptic seedling was taken as explants to study the optimization of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system.[Result] The highest transformation efficiency was obtained when the explants were pre-cultured in the medium of MS ＋ 2 mg/L 6-BA ＋ 0.2 mg/L IAA for 2 d,and then infected with Agrobacterium GV3101（OD600 =0.6） for 5 min.The PCR detection proved that npt II gene had been integrated into the regenerated tobacco plants.[Conclusion]A highly efficient genetic transformation system of tobacco leaf mediated by Agrobacterium was established.

Study on Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated Transformation of Brassica campestris L. with Fusion Gene Ycoil-bFGF

[ Objective] The study is to generate pharmaceutical protein via plant transgenic technique. [Methed] Using the cotyledons with petiole as transformation receptor, the fusion gene of rapeseed oil-body gene and bFGF was introduced into the rapeseed （ Brassica campestris L. ） by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation; meanwhile regeneration conditions of rapeseed were also optimized, and the regenerated resistant plantlets were detected by PCR and Southern blot. [ Result] This fusion gene had been integrated into rapeseed genome successfully, and the optimized conditions of transformation and regeneration were as follows： explants pre-culture for 2 d, co-culture for 3 d, bacteria solution OD600 for 0.3 and infection time for 5 min. [ Conclusion] The results laid a solid foundation for extraction, isolation and purification of protein in transgenic plant seeds.

Optimization of Agrobacterium Mediated Genetic Transformation System of Tomato Meifen No.1

[Objective] The aim of this study was to carry out study on the optimization of Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation system of tomato Meifen No.1.[Method] The cotyledon of tomato cultivar Meifen No.1 was used as the explant,and the Agrobacterium mediation method was used to optimize its genetic transformation efficiency so as to establish the efficient Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation system of tomato cotyledon.[Result] The highest transformation efficiency was obtained when the explants were cultivated for 2 d on MS ＋ 2.0 mg/L 6-BA＋ 0.5 mg/L IAA medium and then infected with Agrobacterium EHA105（OD = 0.4）for 5 min;it was proved by PCR analysis that the target nptII gene had been integrated into the genome of regenerated plants.[Conclusion] The result in this study had provided basis for the transfer of valuable genes into tomato Meifen No.1.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of rice with the spider insecticidal gene conferring resistance to leaffolder and striped stem borer

Immature embryos of rice varieties "Xiushui11" and "Chunjiang 11" precultured for 4d were infected and transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101/pExT7 (containing the spider insecticidal gene). The resistant cant were transferred onto the differentiation medium and plants were regenerated. The transformation frequency reached 56%-72% measured as numbers of Geneticin (G418)-resistant calli produced and 36%-60% measured as numbers of transgenic plants regenerated, respectively. PCR and Southern blot analysis of transgenic plants confirmed that the T-DNA had been integrated into the rice genome. Insect bioassays using T1 transgenic plants indicated that the mortality of the leaffolder (Cnaphalocrasis medinalis) after 7d of leaf feeding reached 38%-61% and the corrected mortality of the striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) after 7d of leaf feeding reached 16%-75%. The insect bioassay results demonstrated that the transgenic plants expressing the spider insecticidal protein conferred enhanced resistance to these pests.

Improvement of Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Wheat Infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Wheat, one of the most important food crops, has been extensively studied with respects to plant regeneration and transformation employing the immature embryos as recipient tissues. However, the transformed tissues often become severely necrotic after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium, which is one of the major obstacles in gene delivery. In this study, wheat varieties CB037, Kenong 199, Xinchun 9, Lunxuan 987, and Shi 4185 showed desirable culture potential or high infection ability in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Similarly, optimal regeneration conditions were determined by testing their ability to inhibit the cell necrosis and cell death phenotype. Two auxins of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid （2,4-D） and 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid （dicamba） were evaluated for highly significant effect on both callus and plantlet production, although they were genotype-dependent in wheat. Substitution of 2,4-D by dicamba enhanced the growth and regeneration ability of callus from the immature embryos of most genotypes tested. The callus growth state couldn’t be modified by adding antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, cysteine, and silver nitrate or organic additives such as thiamine HCl and asparagine to the media. On the contrary, the best tissue statement and plant regeneration was achieved by employing the media containing the simplest MS （Murashige and Skoog） components and dicamba without organic components and vitamins. Thereby, our results are thought to inhibit wheat cell necrosis effectively and suggested to be used for more wheat genotypes.

Meropenem as an Alternative Antibiotic Agent for Suppression of Agrobacterium in Genetic Transformation of Orchid

A case of Meropenem as a novel antibacterial agent to suppress and eliminate Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of orchid protocorm-like bodies （PLBs） has been reported in this article. The in vitro activities of meropenem and four comparator antibacterial agents against three Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, LBA4404, EHA101, and GV3101, were assessed. In addition, the effect of meropenem on the growth of Dendrobium phalaenopsis PLBs was determined. Compared with other commonly used antibiotics （including ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefotaxime, and cefoperazone）, meropenem showed the highest activity in suppressing all tested A. tumefaciens strains （minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] 〈 0.5 mg L^-1, which is equal to minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC]）. Meropenem, at all tested concentrations, except for 10 mg L^-1 concentration, had little negative effect on the growth of orchid tissues. The A. tumefaciens strain EHA101 in genetic transformation with vector plG121Hm in infected PLBs of the orchid was visually undetectable after a two-month subculture in 1/2 MS medium with 50 mg L^-1 meropenem and 25 mg L^-1 hygromacin. The expression and incorporation of the transgenes were confirmed by GUS histochemical assay and PCR analysis. Meropenem may be an alternative antibiotic for the effective suppression of A. tumefaciens in genetic transformation.

Establishment of A Simple and Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated Genetic Transformation System to Chinese Cabbage(Brassica rapa L.ssp.pekinensis)

Chinese cabbage,belonging to Brassica rapa species,is an important vegetable in Eastern Asia.It is well known that Chinese cabbage is quite recalcitrant to genetic transformation and the transgenic frequency is generally low.The lack of an efficient and stable genetic transformation system for Chinese cabbage has largely limited related gene functional studies.In this study,we firstly developed a regeneration system for Chinese cabbage by optimizing numerous factors,with 93.50%regeneration rate on average.Based on this,a simple and efficient Agrobacteriummediated genetic transformation methodwas established,without pre-culture procedure and concentration adjustment of hormone and AgNO_(3) in co-cultivation and selection media.Using this system,transformants could be obtained within 3.5–4.0 months.Average transformation frequency is up to 10.83%.The establishment of this simple and efficient genetic transformation method paved the way for further gene editing and functional studies in Chinese cabbage.

The Establishment of an Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation Platform for the Non-Embryogenic Calli of Vitis vinifera L.

Non-embryogenic calli （NEC） was inevitably and heavily produced when grape embryogenic calli （EC） was induced from explants or during the subculture of EC.A stable and highly efficient NEC transformation platform is required to further sort out and verify key genes which determine/switch the identity of NEC and EC.In this research,a vector pA5 containing a chitinase signal sequence fused to gfp （green fluorescent protein） and an HDEL motive was used to target and immobilize into Agrobacterium strain EHA105 to establish a transformation platform for Vitis vinifera L.cv.Chardonnay NEC.It was determined that NEC 10 d after subculture was the best target tissue;30 min for inoculation followed by 3 d co-cultivation with the addition of 200 μmol L-1 acetosyringone （AS） was optimized as protocol.The use of bacterial densities as 1.0 at OD600 did not result in serious tissue hypersensitive reaction and it had higher efficiency.Kanamycin at 200 mg L-1 was picked for positive expression selection.The stable transformation of NEC was proved by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques （RT-PCR） and fluorescent microscopy after three sub-cultures of the selected cell line.Highly efficient genetic transformation protocol of grape NEC was achieved and some of the optimized parameters were different from that reported for EC.This transformation platform could facilitate the verification of candidate somatic embryogenesis （SE） decisive genes,and the successfully transformed NEC with certain genes can also be used as bioreactors for the production of functional products,as NEC not only proliferates fast,but also keeps in a rather stable condition.

Transformation of Chinese Cabbage(Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)by Agrobacterium Micro-Injection into Flower Bud

We obtained two lines of Chinese head cabbage(Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)selfed progenies containing both an anti-sense gene of BcpLH and a gene for resistance to kanamycin by micro-injecting buds of their primary transformants(T0)with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404. 31 positive plants resistant to kanamycien were recovered. Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of T-DNA in two transgenic plants. One(DHZ-13-1)exhibits the characteristics of out-toward rosette and cauline leaves, and nested flower model in which secondary complete flower developed from the base of the primary ovary and the third flower from the ovary in the secondary flower, and so on, while another(DHZ-6-1)has no phenotype change. ABA and IAA affected the root growth of progeny of DHZ-13-1, but 6-BA was insensitive to hypocotyl growth during its seedling development.

Regular Production of Transgenic Wheat Mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Wheat is the number one crop both in acreage and total yield in the world. Therefore, it is very important to improve wheat by gene engineering techniques even though it belongs to the plants insensitive to gene transformation, especially to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Wheat immature embryos of 1.0 - 1.5mm in size, C58cl of Agrobacterium strain harboring pPTN249, pPTN270, pPTN254, and pSIS-GFP respectively (all the vectors contain the aphA selectable gene driven by enhanced 35S promoter and a target gene controlled by ubi promoter or E35S promoter), AB medium for Agrobacterium activate culture, WCC medium for co-culture, were used in this study. The embryos with 4 days of pre-culture were transferred onto selection medium with 10mg/L geneticin, 50mg/L ticarcillin, 50mg/L vancomycin, and 50mg/L cefotaxine after 30 minutes of infection and 2 days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium. Followed callus production, shoot regeneration on selection medium, 114 resistant plantlets were obtained from 10 transformation experiments of four genotypes. By nptll ELISA (nptII enzyme assay), PCR, Southern blot and leaf bleach, 29 positive plants were identified from two genotypes of Bobwhite and Yangmai 10, with an average transformation efficiency of 0.82%. The result tested by Southern blot also showed that the transgenic plants with single- copy integration of target gene took 65.52% among total positive plants. The ELISA value of transgenic plant was also related to the copies of alien DNA integrating into wheat chromosomes, the transgenic plants with single copy integration giving higher ELISA value than the ones with 2 or 3 copies integration.

Production of Transgenic Tall Fescue Plants with Enhanced Stress Tolerances by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation

In order to improve stress tolerances of turf-type tall fescue （Festuca arundinacea Schreb.）, Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 carrying plasmid pCMD containing stress tolerance-related CBF1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana was used to transform mature seeds-derived embryogenic calli of four cultivars. A total of 112 transgenic plants were regenerated from 32 independent lines and verified by histochemical detection of GUS activity, PCR assay and Southern hybridization analysis. The transformation frequency ranged from 0.92 to 2.87% with apparent differences among the cultivars. Stress tolerances of transgenic plants were enhanced, which was shown by the facts that transgenic plants had distinct growth superiority and significantly higher survival rate than non-transformed ones under high salinity and high osmosis stresses, and that relative electronic conductivity of in vitro leaves treated with low and high temoeratures, dehvdration and high salinity stresses was 25-30% lower in transgenic plants than in control plants.In addition,it was observed that growth of transgenic plants was inhibited due to constitutive overexpression of CBF1 gene under normal environmental conditions.

Genetic transformation of loblolly pine using mature zygotic embryo explants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 carrying pBI121 plasmid was used to transform mature zygotic embryos of three genotypes (E-Hb, E-Ma, and E-Mc) of loblolly pine. The results demonstrated that the expression frequency of (-glucuronidase reporter gene (GUS) varied among genotypes after mature zygotic embryos were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens cultures. The highest frequency (27.8%) of GUS expressing embryos was obtained from genotype E-Mc with mean number of 21.9 blue GUS spots per embryo. Expression of (-glucuronidase reporter gene was observed on cotyledons, hypocotyls, and radicles of transformed mature zygotic embryos, as well as on organogenic callus and regenerated shoots derived from co-cultivated mature zygotic embryos. Nineteen regenerated transgenic plants were obtained from GUS expression and kanamycin resistant calli. The presence and integration of the GUS gene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis. These results suggested that an efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol for stable integration of foreign genes into loblolly pine has been developed and that this transformation system could be useful for the future studies on transferring economically important genes to loblolly pine.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of modern rose(Rosa hybrida)using leaf-derived embryogenic callus

Rose(Rosa hybrida)is widely used for cut flowers and as garden plants.Stable and efficient transformation system is required for functional genomics of rose.Here,we established an efficient transformation method for rose using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of embryogenic callus.Expanding rose leaves were used as explants to induce somatic embryos,which were subjected to transformation with A.tumefaciens strain GV3101 using Green Fluorescence Protein(GFP)as a marker gene.It took about 8 months to generate transgenic shoots from embryogenic callus.PCR,RT-PCR,Southern and Western blotting,as well as stereoscopic fluorescence microscopy analysis demonstrated that GFP transgenes integrated stably into the rose genome.According to our data,a transformation efficiency of up to 6%can be achieved by following this optimized protocol.

Reliable and Efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Genetic Transformation of Dianthus spiculifolius

Dianthus spiculifolius is a perennial herbaceous flower with strong environmental adaptability and is an important ornamental ground cover plant.In this study,seeds of D.spiculifolius were used as explants for callus induction,adventitious bud differentiation,and rooting by adding different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D),6-benzyl aminopurine(6-BA),and naphthaleneacetic acid(NAA)to Murashige and Skoog medium.The calli generated were co-cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 containing pBI121-GUS or pBI121-GFP plasmids for 30 min,and transgenic regenerated plants were obtained by kanamycin(30mg·L^−1)screening.RT-PCR confirmed the stable expression of the exogenous GUS and GFP genes in the D.spiculifolius.Theβ-glucuronidase(GUS)histochemical staining confirmed GUS gene expression in transgenic calli,adventitious buds,and regenerated plants of D.spiculifolius.The green fluorescent protein(GFP)visual analysis showed GFP gene expression in transgenic calli.Furthermore,subcellular localization analysis showed that the three organelle marker proteins were not only successfully expressed but also accurately localized to their corresponding organelles in D.spiculifolius callus cells.These results indicated a successful establishment of a reliable and efficient A.tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation system,which will contribute to functional gene research and genetic improvement of D.spiculifolius.

Optimization of the uidA Gene Transfer of Rosa hybrida via Agrobacterium tumefaciens: an Assessment of Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Gene Transfer

To develop a transformation protocol of Rosa hybrida Samantha via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the authors examined the effect of different factors on T-DNA transfer by measuring transient expression levels of an intron-containing -glucuronidase gene. The results indicate that explant, light condition, salt concentration and acetosyringone (AS) concentration in co-culture medium are the most important factors, and factors like co-culture temperature, co-culture period and bacteria density have a strong effect on the growth of bacteria and then T-DNA transfer. Optimized co-cultivation was performed by inoculation of embryogenic callus with bacteria at a density of OD600= 0.50.8 for 20 min and co-culture in darkness under 23 C on medium with 1/2 MS salts and 300 mol稬1 AS for 3 d.

Establishment of genetic transformation system via Agrobacterium in tall fescue cultivar

Tall fescue （Festuca arundinacea Schreb.） is a cool-season turfgrass used on fairways in golf courses. The object of this study was to develop a more efficient, reliable, and repeatable approach in transforming the grass using Agrobacterium （EHA105）, where β-glucuronidase gene （uidA） was used as a reporter and hygromycin phosphotransferase gene （hyg） as a selectable marker. An effective expression of transgene was observed in transforming 2-month-old calli derived from mature seeds （cv. Bingo） cultured on MS medium supplemented with 9 mg·L^-1 2, 4-D. A two-step solid medium selection with increasing hygromycin concentration （from 30 to 50 mg· L^-1） was used to obtain resistant calli. Transgenic plants have been produced from many independent transformed calli. The presence of functional β-glucuronidase gene （uidA） was detected in hygromycin-resistant calli. Transgenic plants were regenerated and PCR and Southern blot confirmed transgene integration in the tall fescue genome.

Computational prediction of over-annotated protein-coding genes in the genome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58

Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 is a type of pathogen that can cause tumors in some dicotyledonous plants.Ever since the genome of A. tumefaciens strain C58 was sequenced, the quality of annotation of its protein-coding genes has been queried continually, because the annotation varies greatly among different databases. In this paper, the questionable hypothetical genes were re-predicted by integrating the TN curve and Z curve methods. As a result, 30 genes originally annotated as ＂hypothetical＂ were discriminated as being non-coding sequences. By testing the re-prediction program 10 times on data sets composed of the function-known genes, the mean accuracy of 99.99% and mean Matthews correlation coefficient value of 0.9999 were obtained. Further sequence analysis and COG analysis showed that the re-annotation results were very reliable. This work can provide an efficient tool and data resources for future studies of A. tumefaciens strain C58.