Strain specific Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Bacopa monnieri

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation is the most preferred strategy utilized for plant genetic transformation. The present study was carried out to analyze the influence of three different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on genetic transformation of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell. In the present study, B. monnieri was genetically transformed with three different strains of A. tumefaciens viz. LBA4404, EHA105 and GV3101 harbouring expression vector pCAMBIA2301 containing β-glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter gene. The putative transformants were analyzed by PCR method using transgene specific primers. Expression and presence of GUS reporter protein were analyzed by histochemical staining assay and quantitative analysis of GUS enzyme was done using fluorometric assay. No statistically significant difference in transformation efficiency was found for all the three strains. Interestingly, Gus expression was variable with LBA4404 plants showing highest GUS activity.