Application of biotechnology for improvement of the Australian ornamental plant, Pandorea

© 2002 Dr. Latha Sowbhagya KancherlaThe ornamental plant, Pandorea, is an enchanting garden plant that is suitable to grow in a variety of gardens. Vivid flowers, shiny leaves and vigorous growth make this vine fit well in landscapes as well as home gardens. The present study was aimed at the expansion of Pandorea ornamental attributes further, with different breeding methods to uplift the eminence of this plant in the ornamental plant industry. Biotechnological methods were effectively used as tools to improve this ornamental plant. In vitro propagation is a basic requirement for several biotechnological applications on Pandorea. In the present study, in vitro micropropatation of Pandorea was achieved through node culture. Nodal explants cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium containing benzyladenine (2 mg 1 -1) and kinetin (1 mg 1 -1) was effective for P. pandorana and P. jasminoides propagation respectively. Indole Butyric Acid from 0.5 to 1 mg 1-1 was required to initiate roots in vitro. In vitro regeneration is essential for gene transformation studies. Shoot regeneration of Pandorea was achieved using nodal explants and cotyledonary explants for P. pandorana and P. jasminoides respectively. (Part abstract

Enhancing agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of sugarcane : progress towards an efficient, genotype-independent method

Several key issues need to be resolved before an efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated sugarcane transformation method can be developed for a wider range of sugarcane cultivars. These include loss of morphogenetic potential in sugarcane cells after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, effect of exposure to abiotic stresses during in vitro selection, and most importantly the hypersensitive cell death response of sugarcane (and other nonhost plants) to Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Eight sugarcane cultivars (Q117, Q151, Q177, Q200, Q208, KQ228, QS94-2329, and QS94-2174) were evaluated for loss of morphogenetic potential in response to the age of the culture, exposure to Agrobacterium strains, and exposure to abiotic stresses during selection. Corresponding changes in the polyamine profiles of these cultures were also assessed. Strategies were then designed to minimize the negative effects of these factors on the cell survival and callus proliferation following Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Some of these strategies, including the use of cell death protector genes and regulation of intracellular polyamine levels, will be discussed