The aim of the present work was to study the effect of the type of explant and the genotype on the improvement of genetic transformation of embryogenic lines of European chestnut (Castanea sativa MilI.) as well as the cryostorage of transgenic lines. Somatic embryos isolated in the globular stage or clumps of 2-3 embryos in globular or early torpedo stages were more effective on transformation efficiency than embryos isolated at the cotyledonary stage. AII the seven genotypes tested were transformed, but the transformation efficiency was clearly genotype dependent. Transgenic lines were successfully cryopreserved using the vitrification procedure. Genetic transformation experiments with the thaumatin-like protein CsTL 1have been initiated to induce tolerance to ink disease.

Trabajo presentado en el 11Congresso Ibérico do Castanheira = II Iberian Congress on Chestnut, celebrado en Vila Real (Portugal), del 20 al 22 de junio de 2007

Peer reviewed