The Biotechnological Potential of Duckweeds (Lemna japonica)

• Grant number: 24/05716-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Helaine Carrer
• Grantee: Pedro Adolfo Andretto Repache
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Duckweeds belong to the Lemmaceae family and are the smallest known monocotyledonous plants. They inhabit aquatic environments and exhibit a high growth rate through clonal propagation. These small plants have great biotechnological potential for producing compounds of nutritional and pharmacological interest by altering their specific metabolic pathways. Therefore, the establishment of a tissue culture and genetic transformation protocol is necessary. The most commonly used method of genetic transformation is via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, however, the low rate of frond regeneration affects the success of the protocols. In view of this, this work aims to test different combinations of plant regulators for faster frond regeneration, aiming to obtain genetically transformed Lemna strains for biotechnological purposes.