Genetic transformation in eucalyptus

Abstract

Eucalyptus, commonly known as eucalypts, has over 700 species and is native to Australia and the neighboring islands of Timor and Indonesia. Due to their superior growth, adaptability to specific environments, and desirable wood properties, Eucalyptus species have become the most valuable and widely planted hardwoods in the world. The main theme to attempt genetic transformation in trees is the improvement of productivity and quality. The potential of production of trees with novel traits is one of the most distinct benefits of genetic transformation. There are three prerequisites for successful genetic transformation of a cell or tissue: introduction of the DNA into the cell, its integration into the host genome, and the controlled expression of the introduced DNA. Common methods for genetic transformation are usually divided into indirect or direct transformation. Biological methods using bacteria are referred to as indirect, while direct methods are physical which are based on the penetration of the cellular wall. Indirect transformation methods introduce plasmids/independent circular molecules of DNA that are found in bacteria, separate from the bacterial chromosome into the target cell by means of bacteria capable of transferring genes to higher plant species. The most popular used microorganisms are Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Direct transfer includes electroporation and microprojectile/biolistics/particle bombardment.