Efficient sorghum and maize transformation using a ternary vector system combined with morphogenic regulators

Area of Science:

• Plant Biotechnology
• Crop Science
• Genetics

Background:

• Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a crucial C4 crop for global nutrition, but its agricultural advancement is limited by inefficient transformation techniques.
• Developing efficient genetic modification methods is essential for enhancing crop resilience and yield.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols for Sorghum bicolor.
• To enhance transformation efficiency in maize (Zea mays) using a similar approach.
• To develop a robust system for generating genetically edited sorghum and maize varieties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the pVS1-VIR2 ternary vector system with Agrobacterium, incorporating morphogenic genes BABY BOOM and WUSCHEL2.
• Optimized key parameters of Agrobacterium-mediated infection, including bacterial optical density, co-cultivation duration, and temperature.
• Employed an excision-based system for generating transgenic plants free of morphogenic regulators and G418 selection.

Main Results:

• Achieved high transformation frequencies in sorghum, reaching up to 164.8% based on total isolated plantlets.
• Demonstrated a significant increase in transformation efficiency for the maize inbred line B104 using the same method.
• Successfully generated transgenic plants free from exogenous morphogenic regulators.

Conclusions:

• The optimized transformation protocol offers a substantial advancement in sorghum and maize biotechnology.
• This method provides a valuable tool for developing improved crop varieties, particularly for genomic editing applications.
• The findings contribute to addressing food security challenges and adapting crops to changing climatic conditions.