Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Expression Methods to Validate Gene Functions in Strawberry (F. × ananassa)

Abstract

Understanding gene function is important for crop improvement and breeding efforts, especially in a genetically complex polyploid plant species such as the octoploid strawberry. Agrobacterium-mediated transient assays are a widely used tool for investigating gene functions and offer a reliable alternative to stable transformation. However, variability in tissue-specific responses and inconsistent applicability of Agrobacterium-mediated transient assay across diverse plant species can be challenging. In this study, we provide a method utilizing Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression to examine the function of genes in octoploid strawberry. Our approach encompasses leaf, root, and fruit tissues, providing a comprehensive strategy for validating gene functions in strawberries. Through meticulous optimization and validation in planta, this method offers valuable insights into gene function in strawberry functional genomics and genetics research. By addressing tissue-specific variability, our methodology serves as a valuable technical resource that could facilitate advancements in identifying gene functions in octoploid strawberry.