Rapid and highly efficient morphogenic gene-mediated hexaploid wheat transformation.

Area of Science:

• Plant Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Crop Science

Background:

• Morphogenic regulator genes, such as Zm-Baby Boom (ZmBbm) and Zm-Wuschel2 (ZmWus2), have improved transformation in maize and sorghum by inducing somatic embryogenesis.
• Efficient and cost-effective transformation methods are crucial for advancing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genetic improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel morphogenic gene-mediated wheat transformation methods.
• To assess the efficiency, duration, and cost-effectiveness of these new transformation protocols.

Main Methods:

• Two distinct wheat transformation protocols were developed utilizing morphogenic genes, with and without gene excision.
• Methods involved Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and optimized tissue culture steps, eliminating embryonic axis excision and prolonged selection.
• Transgenic event generation utilized herbicide (phosphinothricin, ethametsulfuron) and antibiotic (G418) selection across multiple wheat genotypes.

Main Results:

• Transformation efficiencies of up to 58% and 75% were achieved with the developed methods.
• Tissue culture duration was significantly reduced from 80 to approximately 50 days.
• The simplified process reduced labor, increased throughput, and lowered costs compared to conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• The reported morphogenic gene-mediated methods offer a highly efficient and simplified approach for wheat transformation.
• These protocols facilitate the rapid generation of high-quality transgenic wheat events across diverse genotypes.
• The advancements contribute to more cost-effective and high-throughput genetic engineering of wheat.