Development of Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation System for Tomato

This book present the work that has immense application in genetic manipulation of tomato to enhance productivity through increasing pest and disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance and to study gene function and regulation. The absence of highly efficient regeneration and transformation procedure is major obstacle in application of gene transformation technology to economically important tomato cultivars. Improved protocol for Agrobacterium mediated transformation of tomato cultivar; "Dhanshree" was developed by optimizing various parameters that affect transformation efficiency. In the present investigation Agrobacterium strain EHA 105 Harboring a pBI 121: gus gene construct was used. Cotyledons proved to be better for transformation as compared to hypocotyls and leaf explants. The best transformation efficiency was obtained with 7-14 days old explants. This transformation protocol proved to be simple, repeatable does not require any callusing phase, and may become general means of transforming tomato.