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Agrobacterium rhizogenes Transformation of the Phaseolus spp.: A Tool for Functional Genomics

¹Departamento de Biología Molecular de Plantas, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62271, México; ²Campo Experimental del Valle de México, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias, Texcoco, Edo. de México, México; ³ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia

A fast, reproducible, and efficient transformation procedure employing Agrobacterium rhizogenes was developed for Phaseolus vulgaris L. wild accessions, landraces, and cultivars and for three other species belonging to the genus Phaseolus: P. coccineus, P. lunatus, and P. acutifolius. Induced hairy roots are robust and grow quickly. The transformation frequency is between 75 and 90% based on the 35-S promoter-driven green fluorescent protein and β-glu-curonidase expression reporter constructs. When inoculated with Rhizobium tropici, transgenic roots induce normal determinate nodules that fix nitrogen as efficiently as inoculated standard roots. The A. rhizogenes-induced hairy root transformation in the genus Phaseolus sets the foundation for functional genomics programs focused on root physiology, root metabolism, and root--microbe interactions.

Additional keywords: common bean , T-DNA , transgenic nodules .