ChiC Gene Enhances Fungal Resistance in Indigenous Potato Variety (Diamant) Via Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum), one of the indispensable food crops, is susceptible to various fungal phyto-pathogenic infections that result in considerable production losses both in terms of quality and quantity. Developing fungal-resistant cultivars by introducing pathogen-resistant genes through transgenic approach has been a powerful tool to provide defense against the fungal pathogens. The current study was undertaken to develop a fungal resistant trait in a local potato variety. To achieve this goal, a local Pakistani Potato variety (Diamant), was transformed with chitinase ChiC gene utilizing plasmid pEKB/ChiC using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101. The infected explants were grown on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP and 0.2 mg/l NAA. Explants were then sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l BAP and 2mg/l GA3 for shooting. PCR examination confirmed the integration of ChiC gene in the potato genomic DNA. The transformed potato variety could also be used as fungus-resistant breeding material and offers new opportunities to develop improved potato cultivars for different agronomic and other desirable traits.