Trasformazione genetica e flusso genico in fragola: ereditarietà ed espressione dei transgeni
Author(s)
Gargaro, Alessio
Date Issued
March 1, 2009
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
One of the most important concerns about transgenic crops is the risk that they become aggressive weeds in agricultural fields or invasive in natural habitats. This risk is high in those species that outcross easily, spread vegetatively and have wild relatives. In this context strawberry represents an excellent model among perennial crops.
The principal way of gene escape from crops to related wild species is by pollen gene flow. Moreover, strawberry produces attractive edible fruits, that can be dispersed by animals for long distances.
In order to evaluate gene inheritance, different genotypes of strawberry were fertilized using the pollen of transgenic plants (Fragaria x ananassa cv Teodora, Duch., 8n) transformed with nptII e uidA (GUS) genes by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Gene inheritance was checked by histochemical assays and PCR detection for the GUS gene on the progeny and by Southern analysis on the donor plants to verify the introgression stability and the copy number of the two transgenes inserted in the same T-DNA.
In conclusion, we have demonstrated the real possibility of genetic exchange both at the intra-specific level (Fragaria x ananassa, cv Capitola), and among the cultivated strawberry and the native of America wild relatives with the same ploidy degree (inter-specific gene flow) that gave rise to a number of viable hybrids.
On the contrary, in the inter-specific cross with the diploid F. vesca, cv Zimbaro carrying the transgene cassette, only one hybrid was observed that achieved the seedling step. This latter observation may be taken as an index of low gene flow risk in those environments where F. vesca grows as a spontaneous plant, but this needs to be further deepened.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ortoflorofrutticoltura
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