Enhancement of Somatic Embryogenesis in Theobroma cacao through TcBBM Overexpression
May 20, 2015| |
Propagation of varieties of Theobroma cacao has been done through somatic embryogenesis (SE). However, low efficiencies and genotype dependence still limits propagation at commercial scales. The Pennsylvania State University's Wayne Curtis aims to use transcription factor Babyboom (BBM) to promote the transition of somatic cacao cells from the vegetative to embryonic.
An ortholog of the Arabidopsis thaliana BBM gene (AtBBM) was characterized in cacao (TcBBM). TcBBM was found to be expressed throughout embryo development and was highly expressed during SE. TcBBM overexpression in A. thaliana and T. cacao led to phenotypes with SE that did not require hormones. Constitutive overexpression of TcBBM significantly increased SE proliferation but inhibited development.
Results show that TcBBM has a specific role in both somatic and zygotic embryogenesis. Results from transient expression of TcBBM confirms that transcription factors can be used to enhance SE.
For more information on the study, read the full article on BioMed Central.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Field Trips for Transgenic Wheat Plants in Egypt
- Kenyan Scientists Embrace Social Media
- US EPA Approves Wider Testing of Spinach Defenses Against Citrus Greening
- Researchers Find Out Why Rice Can't Get Along with Other Plants
- Pakistan Agriculture Research Council Recommends Eight New HYV Maize
- Research and Markets Releases Report on Thailand Seed Industry Outlook
- Research Finds Mechanism of Herbicide Resistance
- USDA FAS Releases Turkey Agri-biotech Report
- Evaluating European Consumer's WTP for Cisgenic and Transgenic Rice
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Reveal Multiple Gene Silencing Pathways Involved in Horizontal Transmission
- Enhancement of Somatic Embryogenesis in Theobroma cacao through TcBBM Overexpression
- Insect-specific MicroRNA, an Alternative to Bt-Toxin Technology in Engineering Insect Resistance
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Genes Associated with Morning and Evening-Like Behavior Identified
-
From the BICs
- UBIC Concludes Regional Sensitization Fora on Modern Agro-biotech Research in Uganda
- ISAAA Report Launched in Swaziland
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet