Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method using hypocotyl explants of radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

To investigate the gene function of radish (Raphanus sativus L.), several attempts have been made to generate genetically transformed radish. However, no efficient and relatively simple method for the genetic transformation of radish has been developed to date. In this study, we established an Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method using the hypocotyl-derived explants of radish cultivar "Pirabikku". Primarily based on the Brassica transformation procedure, we optimized it for radish transformation. Using this system, the transformation efficiency of radish hypocotyl explants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 harboring pIG121-Hm was 13.3%. The copy number of transfer DNA integrated into the genome was either one or two in the four independent transgenic plants. Two of the four plants exhibited male sterility and did not produce self-pollinated seeds. Examination of the expression of the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene in T-1 plants from fertile T-0 plants showed that the GUS genes were inherited. The improvement in the genetic transformation in this study might pave the way for accelerated molecular breeding and genetic analysis of radish.