Use of X-ray microtomography for analysis of whole plant regeneration in Passiflora organensis

• Grant number: 17/26654-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Carnier Dornelas
• Grantee: Tatiane Yamaguchi Quijada
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Passiflora, of the family Passifloraceae, contains about 600 species, mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The species present diverse habits of life and notable floral diversification, which allowed a wide range of interactions with pollinators. Within the genus Passiflora, P. organensis is a native species in Brazil, more precisely in the region of Serra dos Órgãos, and is becoming more relevant as the first species of the genus to have its genome completely sequenced (data not yet published from our group).The study of the gene functions, resulting from the sequencing of the genome of a plant, implicates the application of transgenesis techniques. However, in this case, in vitro plant regeneration protocols should be optimized. The present work intends to elaborate an efficient protocol for regeneration of whole plants of P. organensis through tissue culture and, in addition, to searching the implementation of an innovative technology of 3D image acquisition - the computerized microtomography of X-rays (micro-CT) - which will allow a more refined description of morphogenesis processes in tissue culture.