Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Malus robusta with tomato iron transporter gene

The tomato iron transporter gene (LeIRT2) was introduced to Malus robusta Rehd. via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to produce iron-deficiency tolerant apple rootstock. A total of 19 putative transformants were obtained, 11 of which were verified by PCR amplification to carry a fragment of the transgene. Among them, nine were confirmed to carry the transgene by Southern blot analysis with one to three copies of the transgene integrated into the plant genome. Two transgenic plants, one carrying one copy and the other three copies of the transgene, were hydroponically cultured to test their tolerance to iron-deficiency, which was found only in the transgenic plant with a single copy, which weighted 21%-4% greater than those of the control plants.