TRANSFER OF SOME ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT AND B-GLUCURONIDASE (GUS) GENES INTO POTATO PLANTS

Abstract

Study of in vitro potato regeneration and transformation systems have several advantages, i.e. improving the potato crop using genetic engineering tools. Efficiency, reliability and reproducibility in regeneration and transformation of a plant is considered as the first step to produce transgenic plants that have chimeric genes. On the other hands, regeneration systems via cell and protoplast cultures and even organ cultures may induce genetic variation that helps in some cases to improve crop characters. In this investigation, optimization of regeneration and transformation systems conducted for the two cultivars Desiree and Spunta, which are considered the most important cultivars in Egypt. !he main goal of this work was to produce genetically modified potato plants, harboring both the NPT-II and GUS genes by using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Results are summarized as follow : 1- Potato leaves were taken from aseptically grown in vitro cultures, (25 days old leaves) and were cultured on callus induction medium consisting of MS basal salt mixture supplemented 5 mg/l 2,4-D for 10-15 days before being transferred to the regeneration medium which contains MS basal salt mixture supplemented with 1 mg/l BA+ 1mg/l IAA + 10 mgll GA3. Results indicated that regeneration percentage in general (survival percentage, callus induction and shoot regeneration) were higher in cv. Desiree compared to cv. Spunta.