Genetic Transformation Of Citrus Phytoene Synthase Gene (PSY1) Into Banana

Carotenoids, which are a large group of natural products that are mostly synthesized from isoprene units. Carotenoids contain carotenes and its oxidative derivatives (xanthophylls). They play a very important role in human health, which due to their unique physiological function. Banana(Musa spp.) is the fouth largest food crops after rice, maize and wheat in the world. Planting banana is a main source of income for peasant in Southern China, which plays more and more important role in tropical economy and rural development. Improving the content of carotenoids of banana through genetic transformation with important theoretical and practical significance.In this study, citrus PSY1was introduced into ECSs of Ladys’ fingers(Musa spp.AA group) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Red banana PSY1was cloned and builded vector. Which aimed to lay foundation of improving the content of carotenoids in banana. The main results are as follows:(1) Citrus PSY1was introduced into ECSs of Ladys’ fingers(Musa spp. AA group) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Resistant somatic embryos were screened and germinated in MS medium including20mg/L hygromycin(Hyg) and200mg/L cefotaxime(Cef). Afterwards, the resistant embryos were rooted in rooting medium and resistant banana plants were obtained.(2) The obtained resistant plants were identified by GUS histochemical staining, PCR and RT-PCR. Three transgenic lines of Lady’s fingers had been acquired with sixteen plants. which confirmed that citrus PSY1gene had been introduced into the genome of banana.Its results showed that PSY1had been introduced into and expressed in transgenic Lady’s fingers plants.(3) A pair of RT-PCR primers were designed and synthesized based on the published gene sequence of banana PSY1. The red PSY1were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction depending on the template of total RNA isolated from red banana leaves, and builded vector.(4) Red banana PSY1gene was successfully transformed into Baxi, and resistant callus was acquired.