Factors affecting Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation of Indian potato cultivar ‘Kufri Pukhraj’

Abstract

Factors affecting Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation of Indian potato cultivar ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ were studied. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 was found to be more efficient in inducing transient activity in leaf explants whereas strain LBA4404 yielded best results in internodal explants. Transient expression was found to be higher in internodal explants than leaf explants. Explants (both leaves and internodes) precultured for two days, infected for fifteen minutes and co-cultivated for two days yielded maximum transient Gus expression (85%). Prolonged co-cultivation period resulted in bacterial overgrowth and ultimately death of explants. Stable transformation was also observed from both leaf and internodal explants on selection cum regeneration medium. Results indicate that the extended co-cultivation, pre-culture days and reduced infection time results in lower transient expression. Optimized factors for transformation system can be used for genetic insertions in Indian potato cultivars.