Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) transformation by genetic costruct for RNA interference of cytokinine dehydrogenase 2 gene

Abstract

Aim. Development of protocol for finger millet transformation by EcСКХ2-RNAi construct in order to reduce the expression level of gene encoding cytokinine dehydrogenase. Methods. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of plant calli was conducted. The plants were transformed by agrobacterial strain GV3101 caring binary construct pBract 207-RNAi-EcCKX2. Results. The optional hygromycin concentration for the selection of transformants was found. The transformed plant lines with resistance to this selective agent were obtained. The regeneration of fully developed plants from transformed cell cultures remains a big challenge that need to be solved. Conclusion. During this study the effective concentration of hygromycin for transgenic plant selection was 25 mg/l. The estimated transformation efficiency was around 1.9 %. Suggested approach to suppress EcСКХ2 gene expression has a great potential for the further application in plant biotechnology and agro technology. Whatever, our results strongly indicate about necessity of transformation conditions optimisation and improvement of genetic construct.

Keywords: Eleusine coracana, ckx gene, plant transformation, plant productivity improvement.