Agrobacterium mediated transfer of nptII and gus genes in Camellia assamica

The present work is an attempt to develop transgenic hairy root system in Camellia assamica, using leaves infected by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain LBA9402, harboring binary vector (pART27 and pBI121) carrying β-glucuronidase (gus) as reporter gene and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) as selection marker. The transformed hairy roots were grown in phytohormone free MS media in the presence of kanamycin 50 µg/ml. The incorporation and expression of foreign genes were checked by initial gus assay followed by PCR analysis for the presence of nptII and β-glucuronidase (gus) gene. This protocol therefore facilitates the study of gene expression system in general and for root functional genomics in particular, giving scope for transgenic hairy roots as future explants for secondary metabolite production and plantlet regeneration.