Production of transgenic cucumber expressing phytoene synthase-2A carotene desaturase gene

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate the efficiency of the protocol of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cucumber to introduce phytoene synthase-2a carotene desaturase (PAC genes); 2) demonstrate the integration of PAC genes into the genome of putative transgenic cucumber based on growth on selection medium, PCR and Southern analysis; 3) evaluate the expression of PAC genes in transgenic cucumber based on the analysis of RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Out of 5,945 cotyledonary-node explants inoculated with Agrobacterium, 65 (1.1%) explants produced 238 shoots. Integration of PAC genes into the genome of the cucumber was demonstrated based on the analysis of gDNA-PCR, 21 out of the 238 plants regenerated; while 6 plants proved positive for Southern blot hybridization. Transgene expression was demonstrated based on analysis of RT-PCR, 6 plants proved positive out of the 6 plants analyzed; while 4 plants out of 6 proved positive during Northern blot hybridization. This study successfully demonst rated t he production of transgenic cucumber, integration, and expression of the PAC gene in cucumber.