Citrus Transformation Facility remains integral part of the efforts to combat HLB disease through production of transgenic Citrus plants

Citrus Transformation Facility remains integral part of the efforts to combat HLB disease through production of transgenic Citrus plants

Report Date: 04/17/2020
Project: 18-066C   Year: 2020
Category: Plant Improvement
Author: Vladimir Orbovic
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

 In the first quarter of 2020, Juvenile Tissue Citrus Transformation Facility (JTCTF) accepted four new orders. One client decided to request more plants from previously placed orders and that counted as two new orders. We also received request to work on two additional binary vectors from another client. All these orders were for production of transgenic Duncan grapefruit plants. In accord with the decision of University of Florida leadership, JTCTF stopped working in the middle of March because of the COVID19 epidemic.Between January and April of 2020, JTCTF produced 60 plants. Among the produced plants there were: 47 Duncan grapefruit plants, 12 Valencia orange plants, and one Murraya koenigii (Indian curry leaf) plant. Duncan grapefruit plants were product of experiments with seven different Agrobacterium strains carrying following plasmids: ZM15-2, ZM16, ZM17, JJ8, HGJ87, HGJ88, and TAC1. Valencia orange plants were produced from experiments with bacteria carrying BB3 and BB4 plasmids. Finally, Indian curry leaf plant was produced from experiment with bacteria carrying BB4 plasmid.The JTCTF is undergoing transition to EBA unit in accordance with demands presented to me from both UF and CREC leadership. In the last three weeks, I have been working with the different people in UF and CREC administration to complete the EBA form that will determine the future price list for JTCTF services. In my future reports, I will share the progress of this process. Currently, there are six employees in the facility. Once we return to work from the leave caused by COVID19, I will have clearer picture about the future labor force of JTCTF.


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