Agbiogeneric soybean with glyphosate tolerance: Genetic transformation of new Colombian varieties

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a major global crop. Genetic modification of this crop can contribute to enhance yields, reduce pesticide use, and facilitate sustainability, but there is a need for locally adapted genetically modified varieties. Glyphosate tolerant soybean developed under an agbiogeneric model is an attractive prospect as the technology is now mostly in the public domain. This research evaluates the potential for transformation of three soybean varieties (BR1, BR2, and FNS) and an established variety (SK7). The study investigates the interaction between these genotypes and two A. tumefaciens strains, establishes a selection protocol using glyphosate, compares two explant types and evaluates a bacterial removal protocol. Our findings highlight the importance of plant genotype and bacterial strain specificity in the transformation process, with variety BR1 consistently showing the best performance. While challenges remain, this study advances in the development of glyphosate-tolerant soybean varieties as agbiogenerics.