ENHANCEMENT ON IRON AND ZINC ACCUMULATION IN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED WHEAT PLANTS PART 2

The bar gene was the selection marker in the experiment, and is essential for producing herbicide resistant plants as it is resistant to bialaphos (herbicide) (Patent Lens, 2018). The embryogenic callus was transferred to a ½ MS medium along with 5mg/L zeatin and 2mg/L bialaphos – the primary selection agent – and maintained under light (Liu et.al., 2016). At a temperature of 25oC, the plants were regenerated due to the presence of bialaphos. Bialaphos is an effective selection agent, and, along with zeatin, promotes efficient regeneration in plants (Aftabi et.al., 2018).

There were resistant regenerated shoots: using ½ MS (so half strength) medium with 0.3mg/L IAA and 0.5mg/L MET for 14 days ensured cell growth and division in the shoots. They were then placed in pots in a greenhouse at a temperature of 28oC, with a luminous emittance of 25, 000 (i.e. full daylight, not from sun). Specific conditions were also made with exposure to light/dark: 16/8 hours (16 hours light, 8 hours dark).

Characterisation of the Transgenic Plants