Journal Article

An improved protocol for efficient transformation and regeneration of Setaria italica

Silva, J. P., Basso, M. F., Molinari, H. B. C., Romeiro, D., Santos, C. M., Centeno, D. C.

2020

Overview

Key message An efficient and improved transformation method for functional genetics studies in S. italica , being a boon for the Setaria scientific community and for crop improvement. Foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ) is a short life cycle C4 plant, with sequenced genome, and a potential model plant for C4 species. S. italica is also important on a global food security and healthiness context due to its importance in arid and semi-arid areas. However, despite its importance, there are just few transformation protocols directed to this species. The current protocols reached about 5.5–9% of efficiency, which do not make it a valuable model organism. Different types of explants were used in the above mentioned methods, such as immature and mature inflorescence and shoot apex. However, these techniques have many limitations, such as unavailability of explants throughout the year and a crucial, laborious and considerable time-consuming selection. Aiming a simplified and efficient methodology, we adopted dry mature seeds as explants, which are available in abundance, are constant along the year and well responsive to tissue culture, in addition to a differentiated approach that reaches on an average 19.2% transformation efficiency of S. italica. Thus, we propose a protocol that optimizes the transformation efficiency of this cereal crop allowing a high increase on transformation and regeneration rates. Our transformation protocol provides an interesting tool for Setaria community research as well as enables new strategies for breeding enhanced productivity in the species.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Agrobacterium tumefaciens - genetics / Arid regions / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biotechnology / Breeding / C4 plants / Cell Biology / Cell Culture Techniques - methods / Cells, Cultured / Cereal crops / Crop improvement / Edible Grain - genetics / Edible Grain - metabolism / Efficiency / Explants / Food security / Genetic Techniques / Genetic transformation / Genetic Vectors / Genetics / genome / Genomes / Life cycles / Life Sciences / Original Article / Phenotype / Plant Biochemistry / Plant Breeding / Plant Leaves - genetics / Plant Leaves - growth & development / Plant Leaves - metabolism / Plant Sciences / Plants, Genetically Modified / Protocol / Regeneration / Regeneration - genetics / Regeneration - physiology / RNA Interference / Seeds / Seeds - drug effects / Seeds - genetics / Semi arid areas / semiarid zones / Setaria / Setaria italica / Setaria Plant - genetics / Setaria Plant - metabolism / Setaria Plant - microbiology / Setaria Plant - physiology / Species / Tissue culture / Transformation, Genetic / Transformations