Research PaperEstablishment of an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method in Macleaya cordata

- This is the first report of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of M. cordata.
- The transformation efficiency was influenced by different type of explants.
- The combination of vacuum infiltration 10 min, 75 mg−1 kanamycin and 400 mg l−1 timentin obtained the highest transformation rate.
- The protocol developed in the present study would be useful for M. cordata genetic breeding and improvement.

Macleaya cordata is an important medicinal plant to produced benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) such as sanguinarine (SAN), Berberine (BBR). This study was aimed at improving the BIAs production and disease resistance of M. cordata. The leaf and stem explants were vacuum infiltration with Agrobacterium for 10 min, followed the explants were placed onto co-cultivation medium (100 μM acetosyringone) for 3 days. Then, the explants were transferred to selected medium (75 mg/l kanamycin and 400 mg/l timentin). Finally, the putative transformants were verified by GUS histochemical assay and PCR amplification. This is the first report on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of M. cordata and this method could be providing a regeneration of transgenic M. cordata from leaf and stem segments to increase biomass, alkaloids yield and quality in the future.