Transformasi dan Ekspresi Gen GUS pada Beberapa Jaringan Tanaman Kakao

Abstract

The problem of pod borer pest in cocoa plantation in Indonesia and the advantages of genetic engineering in plant genetic improvement have led to the development of DNA transformation system in cocoa. Tissue culture technique for cocoa faces some problems, mainly in plant regeneration and possibility of somaclonal variation. This research aims at developing a method for DNA transformation into cocoa cells. Several factors that may affect transformation were studied. Preculture treatment. before inoculation of cocoa explants did not increase transformation efficiency. To obtain the most suitable explant for the transformation as well as regeneration, fresh explants of leaves, petals, and zygotic embryos were tested. Of those fresh explants, the zygotic embryos and petals could be transformed and expressed the reporter gene." PCR analysis showed that reporter g"s gene could be introduced into cocoa cells. Histochemical assay of GUS activity demonstrated that the zygotic embryos were the best. In addition, the usc of the zygotic embryos is predicted to minimize the occurrence of somaclonal variations.