AL 08 - Plant Transformation

Laboratory Activities - PlantStress Biotech INCT

Identify in silico promoters responsive to biotic and abiotic stress.
Clone promoters responsive to drought and phytonematodes with activity in different organs (root and leaf).
Validate promoters by transient transformation by biolistics or Agrobacterium rhyzogenes in target plants for in vivo testing of promoters (soybean, cotton and corn).
Validate promoters by stable transformation in target plants for in vivo testing of promoters identified as promising in previous tests (soybeans, cotton and corn).
Organize, maintain and share an in vivo bank of the innovation assets obtained in the project shared by INCT members.
Generate GM soybean, cotton and corn via strategies of overexpression or silencing of plant genes and evaluate the phenotype obtained regarding drought tolerance.
Generate GM soybean and cotton via strategies of overexpression or silencing of plant genes and evaluate the phenotype obtained for resistance to nematodes.
Generate GM soybean, cotton and corn via toxin overexpression strategies and evaluate the phenotype obtained regarding the control of Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera frugiperda.

Laboratory Description

Research efforts in our laboratory have focused on prospecting and characterization of genes involved in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Emphasis: Soybean (Glycine max), Jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) and Solanum nigrum. Approaches: Gene expression analysis; Gene silencing; Overexpression; Subcellular localization of gene products. For genetic transformation, we use mainly particle bombardment, but we are gaining experience on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Embryogenic tissues are used as targets for transformation.

Research Lines

Characterization of soybean genes involved in flood and drought tolerance.
Overexpression of Jaburetox and Soyuretox, urease-derived peptides, for plant protection against insects, fungi and nematodes.
Characterization of WRKY soybean genes responsive to water deficit and study of their promoters. •
Expression of a gene that encodes an osmotin, isolated from Solanum nigrum, aiming enhanced drought tolerance in soybean.

Our Team

Maria Helena Bodanese Zanettini

Team Leader

She holds a degree in Natural History from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1972), a master's degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1975) and a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul ( 1982). Retired Full Professor at the Department of Genetics at UFRGS. She is currently Professor/Advisor of the Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the same University. Has experience in the field of Genetics, with an emphasis on Plant Genetics, working mainly in the lines of research: 1) Prospection of genes, tissue culture and genetic manipulation of plants; 2) Genetics, evolution and conservation of plants. Interested in the following topics: soy; somatic embryogenesis; anther culture; genetic transformation; biolistics; Agrobacterium system; co-transformation; transgenic plants; functional genomics; insect resistance; fungus resistance; genetic variability; population structure; plant cytogenetics; meiotic behavior; playback mode; fertility.

Christian Bredemeier

Graduated in Agronomy from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Master in Plant Science from UFRGS and PhD in Plant Nutrition/Precision Agriculture from the Technical University of Munich - Weihenstephan (Freising, Germany). Currently is Associate Professor at the Department of Crop Plants / UFRGS and Professor at the Graduate Program in Phytotechnics at UFRGS and at the Graduate Program in Precision Agriculture at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). Coordinates the Digital Agriculture Study Group (GEAD / UFRGS) and is a founding partner of the Brazilian Institute of Bioeconomy (INNBIO). Currently, is President of the Brazilian Commission for Precision and Digital Agriculture - CBAPD/MAPA (Period 2021-2023), Scientific Deputy Director of the Brazilian Association for Precision and Digital Agriculture - AsBraAP (Period 2020-2024), Member of the Chamber of Agro 4.0 and Member of the Network of Mentors in Innovation at ZENIT - Scientific and Technological Park of UFRGS. He was Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Phytotechnics / UFRGS, in the period 2017-2021. Areas of expertise: Precision Agriculture and Digital Agriculture, variable rate nitrogen fertilization, ecophysiology and crop plant management, sensors, remote sensing and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).