Contined funding for the mature citrus facility to produce disease tolerant, transgenic citrus

Contined funding for the mature citrus facility to produce disease tolerant, transgenic citrus

Report Date: 12/21/2015
Project: 15-045C   Year: 2015
Category: Horticultural & Management
Author: Janice Zale
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

The mature citrus transformation facility continues to produce transgenic events for its clients. Productivity has significantly improved using vectors with reporter genes. Transgenics produced via Agrobacterium can now be supplemented with transgenics produced using biolistics in immature and mature citrus. Scientists have been encouraged to submit vectors with all plant sequences and no pest sequences, which might lessen regulatory hurdles. Genes are now being stacked in an effort to prevent the pathogen from easily overcoming tolerance or resistance. A manuscript is being prepared describing biolistics in immature citrus. Currently, all transgenic events are being transferred to scientists directly without secondary grafting or propagation, unless otherwise requested. To improve efficiencies and lessen potential micrografting incompatibilities, sweet orange is being micrografted onto decapitated sweet orange rootstock. Micrografting losses in mature rootstock have significantly decreased when young shoots are micrografted onto decapitated rootstock grown in high sucrose solution. We are in the process of introducing new breeder lines in which to produce transgenics. Three sweet orange varieties and one grapefruit are being introduced via shoot-tip grafting. Once plants are established, they will be used in budding mature citrus onto rootstock to obtain budstick for transformations. Our website is being updated to reflect current prices and technologies employed.


Your browser does not support pdfs, click here to download the file.