Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications

<i>Solanum betaceum</i> Cav. (tamarillo) has a strong biotechnological potential given the ease of obtaining cell lines from it that can be genetically transformed. However, genetic transformation of tamarillo cell suspension cultures has not yet been described. This study presents a sim...

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Main Authors: Ricardo Ferraz, Bruno Casimiro, Daniela Cordeiro, Jorge Canhoto, Sandra Correia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1028
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author Ricardo Ferraz
Bruno Casimiro
Daniela Cordeiro
Jorge Canhoto
Sandra Correia
author_facet Ricardo Ferraz
Bruno Casimiro
Daniela Cordeiro
Jorge Canhoto
Sandra Correia
author_sort Ricardo Ferraz
collection DOAJ
description <i>Solanum betaceum</i> Cav. (tamarillo) has a strong biotechnological potential given the ease of obtaining cell lines from it that can be genetically transformed. However, genetic transformation of tamarillo cell suspension cultures has not yet been described. This study presents a simple method for <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation of these cells and demonstrates the successful insertion of the β-glucuronidase gene (<i>gusA</i>) and the yellow fluorescent protein gene (<i>eyfp</i>) in their genome. For the success of this protocol, the selection of actively growing sub-cultured callus as explant and isolation of bacterial colonies with a cell density OD<sub>600</sub> of 0.6–0.8 were key steps. Also, the inoculation of the callus in a bacteria liquid culture, the use of sonication, and the addition of antioxidants were essential. The transient expression of the <i>gusA</i> gene in tamarillo callus was confirmed and quantified, and no significant differences were observed between using LBA4404 or EHA105 strains. Finally, the insertion of the <i>eyfp</i> gene in the tamarillo genome enabled the in vivo confirmation of the transformation success. The present study showed that tamarillo cell suspension cultures can be genetically modified, opening the way for metabolite production in transformed cells and future scaling-up in bioreactors.
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spelling doaj-art-6167483432ee4524b6545c80fa51119f2025-08-20T02:09:14ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-03-01147102810.3390/plants14071028Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological ApplicationsRicardo Ferraz0Bruno Casimiro1Daniela Cordeiro2Jorge Canhoto3Sandra Correia4Centre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalCentre for Functional Ecology, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal<i>Solanum betaceum</i> Cav. (tamarillo) has a strong biotechnological potential given the ease of obtaining cell lines from it that can be genetically transformed. However, genetic transformation of tamarillo cell suspension cultures has not yet been described. This study presents a simple method for <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated transformation of these cells and demonstrates the successful insertion of the β-glucuronidase gene (<i>gusA</i>) and the yellow fluorescent protein gene (<i>eyfp</i>) in their genome. For the success of this protocol, the selection of actively growing sub-cultured callus as explant and isolation of bacterial colonies with a cell density OD<sub>600</sub> of 0.6–0.8 were key steps. Also, the inoculation of the callus in a bacteria liquid culture, the use of sonication, and the addition of antioxidants were essential. The transient expression of the <i>gusA</i> gene in tamarillo callus was confirmed and quantified, and no significant differences were observed between using LBA4404 or EHA105 strains. Finally, the insertion of the <i>eyfp</i> gene in the tamarillo genome enabled the in vivo confirmation of the transformation success. The present study showed that tamarillo cell suspension cultures can be genetically modified, opening the way for metabolite production in transformed cells and future scaling-up in bioreactors.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1028cell suspension culturesGUS activity assayin vivo monitoringrelative qPCRSolanaceae
spellingShingle Ricardo Ferraz
Bruno Casimiro
Daniela Cordeiro
Jorge Canhoto
Sandra Correia
Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
Plants
cell suspension cultures
GUS activity assay
in vivo monitoring
relative qPCR
Solanaceae
title Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
title_full Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
title_fullStr Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
title_full_unstemmed Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
title_short Mediated Transformation of Tamarillo (<i>Solanum betaceum</i>) Callus Cell Suspension Cultures: A Novel Platform for Biotechnological Applications
title_sort mediated transformation of tamarillo i solanum betaceum i callus cell suspension cultures a novel platform for biotechnological applications
topic cell suspension cultures
GUS activity assay
in vivo monitoring
relative qPCR
Solanaceae
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1028
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