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Onion, Leek and Garlic Transformation by Co-Cultivation with Agrobacterium

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Genetic Transformation of Plants

Part of the book series: Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis ((MOLMETHPLANT,volume 23))

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Abstract

Allium species are difficult to transform. Because of the difficulties, the genus is amongst the last commercially important vegetable genus for which gene transformation protocols are being developed. The protocols outlined in this chapter are still in their infancy and in the case of leek and garlic, they are the only successful reports of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for those particular species (at the time of going to press). For onions, only two protocols have been published. Of these, only the one described below (Sects. 4.2.1 and 4.2.2) has been routinely used to produce transgenic onions containing several different traits. Therefore, the reader should be aware that while every effort has been made to accurately report the technology that is currently being used, there is every likelihood that these protocols can be improved upon or that new protocols may arise that will supersede what is reported here. This chapter deals with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and does not cover direct gene transfer methods, such as biolistics and cell fusion-mediated transformation or interspecific gene integrations. For information on these gene transfer techniques in Allium species, the reader is referred to Eady (1995, 2002a,b), Buitveld (1998) and Kik (2002). This chapter does not cover the history of Allium transformation, gene delivery, gene regulation, and cell culture research, or the potential applications and risks of the technology to alliums. These have been covered in previous reviews (Eady 1995, 2002a,b). This chapter outlines the current state of the technology and how it is being applied. Rather inevitably, in this day and age, it is possible that some current applications have been omitted as some research may be subject to nondisclosure due to its commercial sensitivity. There may also be other cases for which published results are not yet available.

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Authors
  1. C. C. Eady
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, 5064, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia

    J. F. Jackson

  2. Goldberglein 7, 91056, Erlangen, Germany

    H. F. Linskens

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Eady, C.C. (2003). Onion, Leek and Garlic Transformation by Co-Cultivation with Agrobacterium . In: Jackson, J.F., Linskens, H.F. (eds) Genetic Transformation of Plants. Molecular Methods of Plant Analysis, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07424-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-07424-4_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-05553-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-07424-4

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