Technique Genetically Transforms Succulents Without Tissue Culture

Chinese scientists genetically engineered succulents using a recently developed technique that does not involve tissue culture. Their results showed that the technique may be used to various plant species.

Succulents are an essential part of the floriculture market due to their ornamental appeal and drought tolerance. However, only a few succulent species can undergo genetic engineering.

Researchers from various institutions in China utilized a cut-dip-budding (CDB) gene delivery system to modify three succulent varieties, which are Sansevieria trifasciata, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and Crassula arborescens. To transform the succulents, their cut leaf segments were directly infected with the Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain K599. Among the three varieties, K. blossfeldiana had the highest transformation efficiency of about 74%. Their findings showed that the CDB technique can successfully be used to genetically transform succulents that have shoot regeneration ability.

For more information, read the article on Plant Biotechnology Journal.

See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=20707