#electroporation method

Apomixis bypasses meiosis to produce seed. And it is considered to bring economic benefits over than the “Green Revolution” by using to fixation of F1 variety in agriculture. In our laboratory, we have been successful in cloning the apomixis-specific gene of ASG-1, isolated from Panicum maximum. In order to do functional analysis of the ASG-1, we have been carrying out the gene transformation of ASG-1 in sweet potato, a vegetative reproductive crop. In this study, the purpose is getting transformants by using the seeds of sweet potato and the instrument of NEP21, an electroporation. As the first step, we used the Ipomoea nil cv. [Kitachiasagao] as stock and Ipomoea batatas (L.) cv. [Koganesengan], [Narutokintoki] and [Beniazuma] as graft to get seeds. And then, the transformants of GUS was induced into sweet potato seeds by using the instrument of NEP21. As the results, 1) according to the standard of selecting variety based on the cross incompatibility referred from Kyushu-Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, we selected 3 varieties out from 6 ones held; 2) according to the standard of selection suitable to be used as either seed side or pollen side, we have gotten matured seeds successfully from the 3 varieties; 3) using the sweet potato seeds collected and the instrument of NEP21, GUS gene expression was detected in the transformant by GUS dyeing with blue color appeared on the surface of the seeds and young buds.

Author(s) Details

Lanzhuang Chen School of Horticulture and Food Sciences, Minami Kyushu University, 3764-1, Tatenocho, Miyakonojo-City, Miyazaki, 885-0035, Japan.