Maize Transformation: From Plant Material to the Release of Genetically Modified and Edited Varieties

Author(s)

Yassitepe, Juliana Erika de Carvalho Teixeira ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; da Silva, Viviane Cristina Heinzen ^{[1, 3]} ; Hernandes-Lopes, Jose ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Dante, Ricardo Augusto ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Gerhardt, Isabel Rodrigues ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Fernandes, Fernanda Rausch ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; da Silva, Priscila Alves ^{[1, 3]} ; Vieira, Leticia Rios ^{[1, 3]} ; Bonatti, Vanessa ^{[1, 3]} ; Arruda, Paulo ^{[1, 3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Ctr Biol Mol & Engn Genet, Campinas - Brazil

^[2] EMBRAPA Informat Agr, Campinas - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, Genom Climate Change Res Ctr GCCRC, Campinas - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Genet Evolucao Microbiol & Imunol, Campinas - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE; v. 12, OCT 14 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Over the past decades, advances in plant biotechnology have allowed the development of genetically modified maize varieties that have significantly impacted agricultural management and improved the grain yield worldwide. To date, genetically modified varieties represent 30% of the world's maize cultivated area and incorporate traits such as herbicide, insect and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, high yield, and improved nutritional quality. Maize transformation, which is a prerequisite for genetically modified maize development, is no longer a major bottleneck. Protocols using morphogenic regulators have evolved significantly towards increasing transformation frequency and genotype independence. Emerging technologies using either stable or transient expression and tissue culture-independent methods, such as direct genome editing using RNA-guided endonuclease system as an in vivo desired-target mutator, simultaneous double haploid production and editing/haploid-inducer-mediated genome editing, and pollen transformation, are expected to lead significant progress in maize biotechnology. This review summarises the significant advances in maize transformation protocols, technologies, and applications and discusses the current status, including a pipeline for trait development and regulatory issues related to current and future genetically modified and genetically edited maize varieties.</p> (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/09007-1 - The Genomics for Climate Change Research Center
• Grantee: Vanessa Bonatti
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 18/06442-9 - Discovering new kinases and receptor-like kinases associated with the response to drought stress in maize
• Grantee: Viviane Cristina Heinzen da Silva
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/23218-0 - The Genomics for Climate Change Research Center
• Grantee: Paulo Arruda
• Support type: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 20/10677-1 - Genetic transformation of maize mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens to obtaining resistance to abiotic stresses
• Grantee: Letícia Rios Vieira
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate