Establishment of a Novel and Efficient <i>Agrobacterium</i>-Mediated <i>in Planta</i> Transformation System for Passion Fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i>)
Hafiz Muhammad Rizwan,
Qiang Yang,
Ahmed Fathy Yousef,
Xiaoxue Zhang,
Yasir Sharif,
Jia Kaijie,
Meng Shi,
Han Li,
Nigarish Munir,
Xuelian Yang,
Xiaoxia Wei,
Ralf Oelmüller,
Chunzhen Cheng,
Faxing Chen
Affiliations
Hafiz Muhammad Rizwan
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Qiang Yang
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Ahmed Fathy Yousef
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xiaoxue Zhang
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Yasir Sharif
Institute of Oil Crops, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Jia Kaijie
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Meng Shi
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Han Li
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Nigarish Munir
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xuelian Yang
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xiaoxia Wei
Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
Ralf Oelmüller
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Chunzhen Cheng
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Faxing Chen
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is an important fruit crop with high economic value. Genetic engineering plays an important role in crop improvement with desired traits and gene functional studies. The lack of a simple, efficient, and stable transformation system for passion fruit has greatly limited gene functional studies. In this study, a simple and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated in planta transformation system for passion fruit was established, using Agrobacterium virulent strain EHA105 harboring the binary vectors pCAMBIA1301 and pCAMBIA1302 with GUS and GFP reporter genes. The system requires less time and labor costs than conventional transformation systems, and no additional phytohormones and sterile conditions are required. Regeneration efficiency of 86% and transformation efficiency of 29% were achieved, when the wounds were wrapped with Parafilm and the plants were kept in darkness for 15 days. Approximately 75% of the regenerated plants had a single shoot and 26% multiple shoots. The transformation was confirmed at the DNA and RNA levels as well as by GUS staining and GFP fluorescent measurements. The developed protocol will contribute to the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding.
