biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 50:514-518, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-006-0081-6

Genetic transformation of Rhamnus fallax and hairy roots as a source of anthraquinones

N. Rosić^1,*, I. Momčilović¹, N. Kovačević², D. Grubišić¹

¹ Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

² Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Hairy roots of Rhamnus fallax Boiss. were induced using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS. The culture established on Woody plant media (WPM) showed a typical hairy root phenotype: rapid growth, reduced apical dominance and root plagiotropism. Seven clones of R. fallax were selected on the basis of their differences in colour and the root branching. The growth of hairy root culture, measured through gain in fresh mass, was done under 16-h photoperiod or in the dark. An increase in anthraquinone (AQ) content was obtained in clones with yellow and less branched roots, like clone 1 [16.43 mg g^-1(d.m.)] and clone 7 [14.21 mg g^-1(d.m.)], compared with other analysed transformed and non-transformed tissue. This study presents the first report of successful transformation of any species from family Rhamnaceae by A. rhizogenes and analysis of AQ production in transformed tissue.

Keywords: Agrobacterium rhizogenes; transformed roots; secondary metabolites

Subjects: Agrobacterium rhizogenes; agropin; anthraquinones; auxins; cytokinins; genetic diversity, variability; hairy roots; in vitro culture, root cultivation, rooting; medicinal plants; nutrient medium, Gamborg B5 medium; nutrient medium, Murashige and Skoog; nutrient medium, Nitsch and Nitsch; nutrient medium, Woody plant medium (WPM); polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Rhamnus fallax; root, hairy; root, rooting; transgenic plants (cf. also in vitro…)

Received: September 10, 2004; Accepted: April 20, 2005; Published: December 1, 2006  Show citation