Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression via root absorption in flowering Chinese cabbage.
BACKGROUND
Because most transient transformation techniques are inadequate for functional genomics research in roots, we aimed to develop a simple and efficientAgrobacterium-mediated transient transformation system that utilized root absorption for research in flowering Chinese cabbage.


RESULTS
Both semi-quantitative and fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that the target geneBcAMT1;3was more highly expressed in plants that were infected with the transformedAgrobacteriumstrain (EHA105-p35S-BcAMT1;3) than in control plants that were infected with the control strain (EHA105-p35S). Furthermore, GUS staining analysis conformed the availability of this transient transformation system. In addition, we found that the highest transformation efficiency was achieved using anAgrobacteriumcell density of OD600= 0.3 for 3-6 h, without hyperosmotic pretreatment, and under these conditions, the peak transformation efficiency was observed at 2 and 4 d after infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The transformation method developed by the present study is simple and convenient, since no special equipment is required, and since the method causes no damage, the plants can be used for subsequent experiments.
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Lihua
L
Zhong
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Yuepeng
Y
Zhang
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Houcheng
H
Liu
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Guangwen
G
Sun
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Riyuan
R
Chen
College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China.
Shiwei
S
Song
Agroinfiltration; BcAMT1;3; Flowering Chinese cabbage; Root absorption; Transient overexpression