Genetic transformation of passionflower (Passiflora alata Curtis) for resistance to Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV)

Author(s)

Ana Paula Chiaverini Pinto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB)
• Defense date: 2010-08-30

Examining board members

Adriana Pinheiro Martinelli; Helaine Carrer; Jorge Alberto Marques Rezende

• Advisor: Beatriz Madalena Januzzi Mendes

Abstract

One species that is currently attracting interest due to its high economic value is the sweet passionflower (Passiflora alata Curtis). However, the culture is affected by different diseases that harm the productivity and fruit quality. The disease caused by Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) is the one that more affect the culture of passionflower in Brazil. This work aimed to obtain transgenic plants of P. alata resistant to the CABMV. The genetic transformation process was via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, strain EHA105, containing the expression cassette with a fragment of the coat protein gene of CABMV, in a hairpin construct and the selection gene nptII, which confers resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. In the experiments of genetic transformation hypocotyl segments and internodal segments were used as explants. After 2-3 days of co-cultivation in MS medium (MURASHIGE; SKOOG, 1962) containing acetosyringone (100 mM), the explants were transferred to the selection and regeneration culture medium consisting of mineral salts and vitamins of MS medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine (BAP - 1 mg/L) + thidiazuron (TDZ - 0.5 mg/L) + kanamycin (100 mg/L) + cefotaxime (500 mg/L) + silver nitrate (4.0 mg /L), pH 5.8. After 4-6 weeks of incubation, it was determined the number of responsive explants. Shoots developed were transferred to elongating culture medium MSM + GA3 (1.0 mg/L) + cefotaxime (500 mg/L) + nitrate silver (4.0 mg/L). The developed plants were acclimatized and analyzed by PCR using specific primers to detect the fragment of CABMV and the selection gene (nptII). It was identified 47 transgenic plants PCR positive for the gene nptII. Until this moment, the integration of the nptII gene was confirmed by Southern blot in 9 plants (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/06875-8 - Sweet passionfruit genetic transformation (Passiflora alata Curtis) for resistance to Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV).
• Grantee: Ana Paula Chiaverini Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master