dc.description.abstract | The majority of tissue culture and transformation studies in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) focus on
the modification of conditions in order to establish a better protocol. Although this is a standard approach for making
progress in genetic transformation technology for a target plant variety, serious difficulty still remains due to the limited
applicability and adaptability of the given protocol. In the present study, we aim to develop a new concept that focuses on
the development of simple but adaptable genetic transformation technology in cassava. ln order to establish an efficient
transformation protocol, two local edible cassava varieties, R-type, with a broad leaf with reddish petiole, and S-type, with
a thin leaf with shiny greenish petiole, were obtained from Okinawa, Japan. Three detection methods, i.e., fluorescence
microscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with detection under an ultraviolet (UV) illumination (254nm) and light
emitting diode (LED) illuminations (365nm and SOOnm) without any staining, and a spectrum scanning (250-700nm) by
a microplate reader system were employed to identify a series of unique features of the petioles and leaves. Antimicrobial
activity of methanol extracts from the tissues was also assayed. We succeeded in the transient expression of the GUS gene
using cassava leaves and also established stable introduction of the GUS gene into three organogenic cassava calli by adapting
Agrobacteriwn-mediated transformation. With all the findings, we have identified a flexible tool to create a better match
between explants and Agrobacterium strains. | en_US |