title: Improved dominant selection markers and co-culturing conditions for efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Ustilago scitaminea.
abstract: Ustilago scitaminea is the causal agent of sugar-cane smut disease. There is, however, no genetic transformation method for it. Here we report the development of an efficient mutagenesis method based on Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. To improve transformation efficiency, a range of conditions, including the codon-usage preference of the selection marker gene, promoters and the culture conditions for transformation were optimized. A strong promoter to drive marker gene expression, optimized codon usage of selection marker gene, controlled water content and pH of co-culture medium were critical factors affecting transformation efficiency. Our findings provide a useful tool for genetic analysis of this important plant pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China, senlonghua@163.com.
authors.forename: Longhua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Meixin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhaojian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yanbin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Minge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Pinggen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Jinling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Lianghui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Zide
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014588:Ustilago / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*