What is it about?
The oilseed Jatropha curcas L. is suitable for the production of biodiesel and biokerosene. Genetic transformation could contribute positively to the improvement of economical traits. This study was performed to introduce a chitinase gene from the Trichoderma viride fungus into the genome of a J. curcas superior genotype. Transgene copies of chitinase could be detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in transformed plants.
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Why is it important?
Jatropha curcas L. is expected to improve the range of oil resources suitable for the production of biodiesel and biokerosen. However, this species has not been domesticated yet and conventional selective breeding are time consuming and costly. Hence, genetic transformation could contribute positively to the improvement of interesting traits, such as the resistance to fungal disease. In addition, variation in transformation efficiency remains strongly genotype-dependent and indicates that protocol optimization is still needed.
Perspectives
Transformation can be apply to pest diseases using gene encoding toxins; several other genes of economical interests were transfered in plants through this technology. The fact of having this technology implemented in J. curcas offers the possibility to improve its oil quality and to extend the range of its co-products, which is an important factor of its economical leverage since it is considered as a commodity that still needs to proof its lucrativity.
Nicolas Carels
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Jatropha curcas leaf explants with a fungal chitinase gene, AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, September 2016, Academic Journals,
DOI: 10.5897/ajb2016.15458.
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