pRi-transformed plants as a source of secondary metabolites

Abstract

pRi-transformed plants are obtained from hairy roots by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. The hairy roots may be an attractive alternative for obtaining material from field-cultivated plants because of their rapid growth and often higher secondary metabolite production. Another value of the hairy roots may be their ability to regenerate whole transgenic plants. These transgenic plants are characterized by morphological changes known as hairy root syndrome. Additionally, the transformed plants also accumulated valuable secondary metabolites at higher levels than nontransformed plants. These alterations are associated mainly with the co-expression of rolA, rolB, and/or rolC genes derived from A. rhizogenes plasmids. Recent interest has grown in the application of pRi-transformed plants as a potentially rich source of pharmaceutically valuable metabolites, especially those which cannot be chemically synthesized. The chapter presents the recent progress made in the production of valuable secondary metabolites by pRi-transformed plants and the limitations associated with it.