Genetic Transformation inCitrus

Abstract

Citrus is one of the world's important fruit crops. Recently, citrus molecular genetics and biotechnology work have been accelerated in the world. Genetic transformation, a biotechnological tool, allows the release of improved cultivars with desirable characteristics in a shorter period of time and therefore may be useful in citrus breeding programs. Citrus transformation has now been achieved in a number of laboratories by various methods. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used mainly in citrus transformation studies. Particle bombardment, electroporation, A. rhizogenes, and a new method called RNA interference are used in citrus transformation studies in addition to A. tumefaciens. In this review, we illustrate how different gene transformation methods can be employed in different citrus species.

Kn1 gene overexpression drastically improves genetic transformation efficiencies of citrus cultivars

“…Several citrus transformation protocols have been previously published. As Donmez et al (2013) pointed out, however, that ''transformation efficiency (for citrus) is generally low and protocols are only effective on certain species or even cultivars''. One major limitation associated with existing protocols when used on economically important citrus species is likely low plant regeneration frequencies.…”

<i>Agrobacterium</i>-Mediated Transformation of Mexican Lime (<i>Citrus aurantifolia</i> Swingle) Using Optimized Systems for Epicotyls and Cotyledons

“…Most of the published protocols for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Citrus have used epicotyls as target cells for incorporation of the T-DNA [20]. Here, the cotyledons were extracted from mature seeds and conditions for regeneration and Agrobacterium transformation were optimized.…”

Transformação genética de laranjeira doce e de tomateiro Micro-Tom com os genes <i>npr1 </i>e <i>npr3-4 </i>de <i>Citrus sinensis</i>

“…O protocolo de transformação genética de citros via Agrobacterium tumefaciens já é usado há algum tempo e, mesmo possuindo alguns problemas como baixa eficiência em algumas cultivares e longo período de juvenilidade da planta, a transformação genética é possível e viável (PEÑA et al, 2004;GROSSER et al, 2011;FÁVERO et al, 2012;DONMEZ et al, 2013).…”