An effective protocol for optimization of in-vitro micropropagation and genetic transformation of Furcraea foetida

Abstract Furcraea foetida (Mauritius hemp) belongs to the family Agavaceae, is cultivated for its ornamental, fiber and medicinal value and can survive in xerophytic conditions. Despite its importance, Agavaceae family has not been genetically exploited. In the presented study, a rapid and efficient protocol for micropropagation and genetic transformation of Furcraea foetida has been established. For this purpose, several sets of experiments were conducted. F. foetida displayed best shooting and multiplication at Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) 1.5 mg /L. Successful rooting was induced on MS medium without any plant growth regulator (PGR). The best transformation efficiency was achieved when two weeks old, regenerated shoots were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 and co-cultivated for two days on MS medium prepared with BAP 1.5 mg/L and 250 mM acetosyringone. The transformed explants were developed on medium enriched with BAP 1.5 mg/L, cefotaxime 500 mg/L and kanamycin 150 mg/L. The transient GUS histo-chemical assay was carried out in order to find out the transformation. The molecular analysis of transformed shoots was done using PCR which revealed the integration of foreign gene into F. foetida genome. The objective of this study is to exploit Furcraea as bioreactor for molecular farming to produce recombinant pharmaceuticals.