ISHS Acta Horticulturae 415: VIII International Asparagus Symposium
GENETIC ENGINEERING OF ASPARAGUS: ASSESSMENT OF METHODS, FIELD TESTING AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS |
| Authors: | A.J. Conner, D.J. Abernethy |
| Abstract:
Genetically engineered asparagus plants have been regenerated following Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer, however the efficiency of transformation was very low. The progress towards the development of alternative transformation systems, based on microprojectile bombardment and direct DNA uptake into protoplasts, is presented. The field performance of a transgenic asparagus line was evaluated in a small plot from 1989 to 1992. Compared to the parental genotype, this transgenic line had low vigour and poor yield. Inferior performance was attributed to genetic events during the tissue culture phase of transformation, rather than the insertion or expression of foreign genes. The nutritional content of the harvested spears was similar in the transgenic line and the parental genotype. The implications of these results are considered in relation to integration of genetic engineering technology into breeding programmes and safety evaluation of transgenic crops. | |
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