Producing marker-free Kalanchoe plants expressing antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 gene

Abstract

Kalanchoe pinnate (Kalanchöe pinnata L. ) plants with synthetic gene of antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 (CP1) under the control of promoter 35S RNA of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV 35S) were produced. For transformation, a modified binary vector not containing selective genes of tolerance against antibiotics and herbicides was used. Screening of the marker-free transformed plants was conducted on the medium without selective antibiotics by revealing antibacterial activity of plant extracts and cecropin P1. The marker-free plants produced displayed increased resistance against bacterial and fungus phytopathogens, while their extracts were characterized by antimicrobial activity for human and animal pathogens. These plants meet the requirements of biosafety and may be used as producers of cecropin P1 in pharmaceutics.