Commentary - (2023) Volume 11, Issue 1
Overview of transgenic tomato production and their process
Asikin Mustapha*Received: 27-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. AAPBH-23-93043; Editor assigned: 29-Mar-2023, Pre QC No. AAPBH-23-93043 (PQ); Reviewed: 13-Apr-2023, QC No. AAPBH-23-93043; Revised: 26-May-2023, Manuscript No. AAPBH-23-93043 (R); Published: 02-Jun-2023, DOI: 10.51268/2736-1802-23.11.099
Description
Transgenic tomato, also known as genetically modified tomato, is a tomato plant that has had a foreign gene inserted into its genome through genetic engineering techniques. This allows the plant to express new traits that are not naturally found in conventional tomato plants. Transgenic tomato plants have been developed to improve traits such as resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, and increased nutritional content.
The production of transgenic tomato plants involves several steps, including the isolation of the gene of interest, the insertion of the gene into the tomato genome, and the regeneration of transgenic plants. The process can be broken down into four main stages: gene isolation, vector construction, transformation, and plant regeneration.
Gene isolation
The first step in the production of a transgenic tomato plant is the isolation of the gene of interest. This gene is usually derived from a different species and encodes a protein that confers a desirable trait, such as resistance to a particular disease or tolerance to a specific environmental stress. Once the gene has been identified, it is typically cloned into a DNA fragment that can be inserted into the tomato genome.
Vector construction
The next step is to construct a vector, which is a carrier molecule that can transport the foreign gene into the tomato plant. The vector typically consists of a plasmid, which is a circular piece of DNA that can replicate independently of the host chromosome, and a promoter sequence that drives the expression of the foreign gene. The vector also contains a selectable marker gene, which allows the transformed cells to be identified and selected for further breeding.
Transformation
The third step is the actual transformation of the tomato plant. This involves introducing the vector carrying the foreign gene into the tomato plant cells. This can be done several methods, using including Agrobacterium transformation, mediated biolistic, and electroporation. Once the foreign gene has been integrated into the tomato genome, the transformed cells can be selected using the selectable marker gene.
Plant regeneration
The final step is the regeneration of the transgenic tomato plant from the transformed cells. This is typically done using tissue culture techniques, in which the transformed cells are grown in a culture medium containing the necessary hormones and nutrients to stimulate their growth and differentiation into plantlets. Once the plantlets have developed roots and shoots, they can be transferred to soil and grown into mature plants.
Applications of transgenic tomato
Transgenic tomatoes are tomatoes that have been genetically modified to exhibit certain desirable traits, such as resistance to pests, diseases, or environmental stresses, improved nutritional value, or longer shelf life etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the production of transgenic tomato plants involves the isolation of the gene of interest, the construction of a vector to carry the foreign gene into the tomato plant, the actual transformation of the plant cells, and the regeneration of transgenic plants from the transformed cells. While the production of transgenic plants has been controversial in some circles, it has the potential to significantly improve crop yields and nutritional content, while also reducing the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.