AGROBACTERIUM-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION OF SUPER STRAIN B AND RIO GRANDE TOMATO CULTIVARS USING GV3101 BINARY VECTOR HARBORING PTDINS-PLC2 GENE

The aim of this study is to deploy best conditions of previously published protocols on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato, to deliver PtdIns-PLC2 gene, which render plants tolerant to drought, to Money Maker, Super Strain B and Rio Grande tomato cultivars. The obtained results indicated that the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer in tomato tissues is influenced by many factors; the most important are cultivars, explants type and optical density. The highest transformation efficiencywas 68% of Money Maker flamingo bill like explant andthe transformation efficiencySuper Strain B and Rio Grande cotyledons were 48% and 40%, respectively. On contrary, the transformation efficiency of Rio Grande hypocotyls and Super Strain B hypocotyls were 20% and 16 %, respectively. The best optical density for cotyledons and hypocotyls of the SSB and RG was 0.05 followed by 0.5 and 1.0. The presence of transgenes and their expression were confirmed by molecular analysis (PCR, RT PCR and Real Time PCR) and histochemical analysis (GUS assay). In conclusion, GUS assays and PCR affirmed the successful deliver and expression of PtdIns-PLC2 in Money Maker Super Strain B and Rio Grande tomato plants regenerated, elongated and rooted on selective media. The obtained transformants Money Maker plantexposed to droughtstress in vitro with different concentration of Mannitol to assess the activity of the gene and estimate some physiological variation