Improvement of in vitro plant regeneration for genetic transformation of argentinean onion varieties

Abstract

Incorporation of certain genetic traits into plants depends on the existence of an appropriate transformation protocol for the species. The development of such a biotechnological approach to insert new attributes in onion (Allium cepa L.) did not exist until a few years ago. In spite of this achievement, studies aimed at the optimization of the transformation protocol adjusted for local conditions, including genotypes, are still needed. Indeed, genotypes are of extreme importance in the case of onion since they exhibit a wide variable in vitro behavior. On the other hand, the preference of both producers and consumers from Argentina and importer countries is on distinctive local cultivars. Thus, it is of utmost importance to study and adjust the conditions to establish a protocol leading to stable genetic transformation of local onion cultivars. The main constraint to achieving this goal is the establishment of an efficient system for in vitro plant regeneration.