The availability of transgenic techniques is a critical component in the development of any genetic model species. For QTL and evolutionary studies, transgenics are equally important since they allow the rigorous characterization of candidate loci for evolutionary change. One major advantage of plants as subjects of molecular research is their common amenability to transformation, particularly by Agrobacterium. Transformation protocols have been developed for literally hundreds of species of herbaceous and woody seed plants, although this often requires the time-consuming use of tissue culture. In Arabidopsis, transformation has been drastically simplified by the use of the “dip” and “spray” methods, as well as the development of optimized T-DNA binary plasmids. I am pursuing the development of transgenic protocols for Aquilegia, specifically a ‘floral dip’ method. We are also working to optimize VIGS-based approaches in our new model cultivar, Aquilegia x caerulea ‘Origami.’
Origami
Arabidopsis
Origami
