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Agrobacterium-Mediated Transfer of Antisense Chalcone Synthase cDNA to Gerbera hybrida Inhibits Flower Pigmentation

Abstract

We have developed a regeneration method and an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for the commercially important ornamental plant Gerbera hybrida. Pieces of petioles of the red variety Terra Regina were cocultivated with a disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens vector containing a nearly full-length antisense cDNA encoding gerbera chalcone synthase under the control of CaMV 35S promoter, and a nos-nptII marker gene. The transformed cells were selected on the basis of kanamycin resistance and regenerated into flowering plants. Introduction of the antisense cDNA blocked anthocyanin synthesis and resulted in a dramatically altered flower pigmentation in some of the transformants.

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Elomaa, P., Honkanen, J., Puska, R. et al. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transfer of Antisense Chalcone Synthase cDNA to Gerbera hybrida Inhibits Flower Pigmentation. Nat Biotechnol 11, 508–511 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0493-508

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