A simple, highly efficient -mediated moss transformation system with broad applications.

UNLABELLED

Mosses, particularly desiccation-tolerant (DT) species, are important model organisms for studying genes involved in plant development and stress resistance. The lack of a simple and efficient stable moss transformation system has hindered progress in deciphering the genetic mechanisms underlying traits of interest in these organisms. Here, we present an -mediated transformation system for DT mosses that uses strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301-GUS. This system achieved transformation efficiencies of 74% and 81% in and protonemata, respectively, without the need for culture and callus formation prior to regeneration. We detected GUS enzyme activity in the regenerated transgenic moss via histochemical staining. Southern blot, PCR, and RT-qPCR analyses confirmed the presence of the gene. In addition, we successfully used this system to transform wild DT . Furthermore, and transformed using this system with the stress resistance gene from the desert plant (Litv.) exhibited improved salt tolerance. We thus present an efficient tool for the genetic analysis of DT moss species, paving the way for the development of stress-resistant crop cultivars.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-024-00174-4.