ZLV Online

Abstract

Norway spruce is one of the most widespread tree species in Europe, where it plays an important role in forest ecosystems and has a broad economic use. Nevertheless, damage caused by bark beetles (Scolytidae) entails significant economic losses. The production of transgenic trees with increased insect resistance is one of the possibilities, which can solve this problem. The possibility of transformation of Norway spruce using cry3A gene was verified and described in the article. The original vectors carrying TOX genes with increased expression in Norway spruce and increased specific toxicity in bark beetles were prepared for the transformation (VLASÁK et al. 2012). Stable transgenic embryogenic tissue was obtained by transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens with the selective nptII gene and with original constructed TOX gene. In all embyogenic cell lines well-growing in selective medium supplied by 100 mg.l-1 kanamycin the stability of transgene integration was verified by Southern blot analysis. Stable transformed lines are stored in proliferative stage in the Forestry and Game Management Research Institute (FGMRI), Czech Republic under contained use conditions.