Genetic Transformation

    Genetic transformation in plants is a process of inserting foreign genes originating from plants, animals, bacteria or humans in certain plants with the aim of obtaining new types of plants that are superior to their parents (Dwiyani et al., 2016). Genetic transformation in plants can be done in vitro and in planta. In planta transformation is a method that does not use tissue culture in the gene insertion process in plants (Kalbande and Patil, 2016). Plant breeders who will carry out genetic transformation must have sample plants as transformation targets as well as the gene to be inserted (gene of interest) in the plant.

    The process of genetic transformation in plants goes through several stages, namely: insertion of the transgene; integration of the transgene into the plant genome; and expression of transgenes integrated into the genome. At the transgene insertion stage, a method is needed on how the transgene can be inserted into plant cells. If the transgene has entered the plant cell, the next step is that the transgene must truly be integrated into the plant genome. This means that the transgene really unites with the chromosomal DNA that is in the nucleus of the plant cell. If the transgene is truly integrated, it will then be expressed together with plant gene expression. At this stage, the DNA has been transcribed into RNA and then the protein encoded by the gene is formed through the translation process. At this stage a gene can be said to be functionally functional (Dwiyani et al, 2016).

    In vitro transformation is a transformation process that is carried out in vitro in the laboratory. The transformation target is a plant cell/tissue that is used as a target where later the transgene (which contains the gene of interest) is expected to be integrated into the target cells. In genetic transformation through A. tumefaciens, the target of this transformation is inoculated with A. tumefaciens suspension which already carries the transgene. Furthermore, the target that has been inserted into this gene will be grown into a transgenic plant. In planta transformation is a transformation in which the gene insertion process (inoculation with Agrobacterium) is carried out not in vitro, but outside the laboratory. Transformation in planta becomes more efficient than in vitro because maintaining sterile conditions in vitro can be avoided. Maintaining sterile conditions in the in vitro transformation process is very complicated.

References:

1. Dwiyani, R., H. Yuswanti, I. A. P. Darmawati, dan N. N. A. Mayadewi. 2016a. Transformasi Genetik pada Tanaman Melalui Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Penerbit : Swasta Nulus. Bali
2. Kalbande, B. B. and A. S. Patil. 2016. Plant tissue culture independent Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated In-planta transformation strategy for upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology 14:9–18
3. Mertawan, I. A. I., Dwiyani, R., & YUSWANTI, H. 2018. Transformasi Gen SoSPS1 Melalui Agrobacterium tumefaciens pada Tanaman Anggur Bali (Vitis vinifera L. var. Alphonso Lavalle) Secara In Planta. AGROTROP, 8 (1): 93 - 102