Establishment of a Virus-Induced Gene Silencing System in <i>Abelmoschus manihot</i> L.
<i>Abelmoschus manihot</i> L. (Jinhuakui, JHK) is widely cultivated for its pharmacological properties owing to its high flavonoid content and is commonly used as a garden landscape plant. However, the absence of an efficient genetic transformation system poses significant challenges for...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/150 |
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| Summary: | <i>Abelmoschus manihot</i> L. (Jinhuakui, JHK) is widely cultivated for its pharmacological properties owing to its high flavonoid content and is commonly used as a garden landscape plant. However, the absence of an efficient genetic transformation system poses significant challenges for functional gene studies in this species. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a well-established technique for exploring plant gene functions; however, this technique has not been applied to JHK. Here, a tobacco rattle virus (TRV)–VIGS system was successfully developed for the first time in JHK using the gene encoding phytoene desaturase (<i>AmPDS</i>) as a marker gene. This study investigated the impact of various <i>Agrobacterium</i> infection methods on the efficiency of <i>AmPDS</i> silencing. The results demonstrated that administering two injections—the first on the day of complete cotyledon expansion and the second 14 days later—using pTRV1 and pTRV2–<i>AmPDS</i> cultures resuspended to an OD<sub>600</sub> of 1.0 and via the backside of the blade—led to significant photobleaching in the cotyledons 2 days after the second injection. Subsequent analyses revealed a marked reduction in both chlorophyll content and <i>AmPDS</i> expression. These findings suggest that a VIGS system was successfully developed in JHK, thus providing a rapid and effective method for studying gene function in this species and facilitating future research in JHK genetics. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |