Transformation of Saussurea involucrata by Agrobacterium rhizogenes: Hairy root induction and syringin production

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated genetic transformation of Saussurea involucrata was investigated. Four bacterial strains, A4, LBA 9402, R1000 and R1601 and three explant types, leaf blade, petiole and root, were examined. Over 100 hairy root lines were successfully established with strains R1601, R1000 and LBA9402, but none with A4. The highest transformation efficiency of 67% was achieved by using strain R1601 with root explants. One hairy root line isolated from this combination, HR1601-1, produced up to 43.5 ± 1.13 mg syringin g−1 dw, which is about 50-fold higher than that in the wild type plants.Two other lines, HR1000-1 and HRLBA9402-1, isolated from R1000- and LBA9402-transformed roots, respectively, also displayed high capacity of syringin production, being 32.5 ± 3.08 and 39.7 ± 1.37 mg syringin g−1 dw. These three lines were characterized in detail. Polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed these root lines were of A. rhizogenes origin.