Split selectable marker mediated gene stacking in plants

Abstract

AbstractPlant synthetic biology and genetic engineering depend on the controlled expression of transgenes of interest, which relies heavily on the use ofAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. Here we establish a novel split selectable marker system using protein splicing elements called “inteins” forAgrobacterium-mediated co-transformation in plants. This method enables robust co-transformation inArabidopsisand poplar, providing a novel strategy for the simultaneous insertion of multiple genes into both herbaceous and woody plants.