Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as an efficient gene selection marker

• Published in: Journal of ISSAAS Vol. 13; no. 2
• Main Authors: Sreeramanan, S., Asian Inst. of Medicine, Science and Technology, Amanjaya, 08000, Sungai, Petani, Kedan (Malaysia). Dept. of Biotechnology, Uma Rani, S., Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia). Dept. of Crop Science, Xavier, R., Asian Inst. of Medicine, Science and Technology, Amanjara, 08000, Sungai Petani, Kedan (Malysia). Dept. of Biotechnology, Ganesan, V., Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia). Dept. of Plant Protection
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2007
• Subjects: AGROBACTERIUM RHIZOGENES; ASIA SUDORIENTAL; ASIE DU SUD-EST; DRUG PLANTS; GENETIC TRANSFORMATION; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2393; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_27443; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3220; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3879; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7260; INOCULACION; INOCULATION; PLANTAS MEDICINALES; PLANTE MEDICINALE; SOUTH EAST ASIA; TRANSFORMACION GENETICA; TRANSFORMATION GENETIQUE
• ISSN: 0859-3132

Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) is a medicinal herb found mainly throughout South East Asia. Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation combined with a visual selection for green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been applied effectively in Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila) transformation. Kacip Fatimah shoots were inoculated with LBA 9420 and ARqual strains, all bearing gfp gene pGEM.Ubi-sgfpS65T. Transformed adventitious roots can be visually selected solely based on GFP fluorescence with a very high accuracy. The method requires no selection agents like antibiotics or herbicides and enables reduction in labor and time necessary for tissue culture. Moreover, individual transformants can be easily excised from the host tissue and cultured separately. All Kacip Fatimah plantlets produced transformed adventitious roots and the frequency of shoots producing GFP expressing adventitious roots varied from 25 to 65%. The highest transformation rate was found for using ARqual strain. The results showed that visual selection of transformed fluorescing adventitious roots can be highly effective and applied routinely for the production of Kacip Fatimah transgenic plants and hairy roots.