Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Camelina sativa for production of transgenic plants

Camelina sativa (C. sativa), an oilseed species rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, has gained great importance as an industrial oil platform crop in recent years. Despite the potential benefits of C. sativa for bioenergy applications, limited research has been conducted to improve its agronomic qualities. Hence, a simple and efficient technique for production of transgenic C. sativa plants is warranted. In the present study, shoot apical meristems of two C. sativa cultivars (Pl650159 and Pl650161) were transformed with Agrobacterium strain ‘EHA 105’ harboring the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) genes. After two days of co-cultivation in the dark, explants were transferred to selection medium. Transgenic shoots were identified on the basis of green fluorescence and kanamycin resistance. Shoots were then rooted and transferred to potting mix soil for acclimatization. This protocol describes an efficient method to generate transgenic C. sativa plants in as little as 4 weeks.