Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of eggplant (Solatium melongena L.) using cotyledon explants and coat protein gene of Cucumber mosaic virus

• Published in: Indian journal of biotechnology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 19 - 24
• Main Authors: Pratap, D, Kumar, S, Raj, S K, Sharma, A K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2011
• Subjects: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Cucumber mosaic virus; Cytomegalovirus; Melongena
• ISSN: 0972-5849

Genetic transformation of eggplant (Solatium melongena L.) was attempted using cotyledon explants and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (strain LBA4404) carrying Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) coat protein (CP) gene construct under the control of CaMV 35S promoter in pROK2 binary vector. A total of 110 cotyledon explants were employed in 4 independent co-cultivation events, of which 66 putative transgenic plants were established in glasshouse. The integration of CMV-CP transgene in the genome of transgenic plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using CMV-CP specific primers. Southern hybridization tests with CMV-CP specific probe confirmed the insertion of single or double copy number of transgene in their genome, which successfully transcribed and translated 26 kDa protein. The regenerated transgenic plants were self-pollinated and grown under glasshouse conditions. T sub(0) generation transgenic plants showed a significant degree of resistance against CMV when screened by challenge inoculations.