title: Transformation of the tropane alkaloid-producing medicinal plant Hyoscyamus muticus by particle bombardment.
abstract: We report an efficient whole plant transformation system for Hyoscyamus muticus, an important medicinal plant of the Solanaceous family. We developed a system using a plasmid carrying the nptII and gusA genes, which was delivered into leaf explants by particle bombardment. Ten percent of bombarded leaf explants formed kanamycin-resistant callus, from which putative transgenic plants were recovered. The nptII gene conferring kanamycin resistance was found to be incorporated into the genome of all transgenic plants screened. Over 50% of the kanamycin resistant plants showed strong expression of the non-selected gusA gene. The majority of transgenic plants reached maturity, could be self pollinated, and produced fertile seed. A simple and efficient whole plant transformation system for this medicinal plant is an important step in furthering our understanding of tropane alkaloid production in plants.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biotechnology Unit, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, United Kingdom. leo.zeef@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zeef
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Leech
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D007613:Kanamycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014326:Tropanes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D014326:Tropanes