Establishment of an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for the genetic engineering of Linum grandiflorum Desf.

Genetic transformation is a powerful tool in plant biotechnology. However, its application is limited to species that are well-studied and easy to transform. There is a critical need to establish transformation protocols for non-model species. A stable transformation method using Agrobacterium rhizogenes for hairy root transformation and regeneration of transgenic Linum grandiflorum was established. This protocol shows the successful co-transformation of different T-DNA fragments from both the native Ri plasmid and the binary vector with the reporter gene. Hairy roots were produced after inoculation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes from which later shoots were formed from the callus, and subsequently, whole plants were regenerated. This protocol significantly facilitates genomic studies in Linum grandiflorum, particularly in investigating genes at the S-locus supergene, which are crucial for understanding self-incompatibility. Moreover, the established transformation method enables the production of hairy root lines, which can be utilized for the biosynthesis of medically useful and commercially valuable plant metabolites.