Hairy root induction by Agrobacterium rhizogenes in galbanum (Ferula gummosa Boiss.)

Ferula gummosa B. an endangered and highly valuable medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae family is an endemic plant of Iran، on which mass production is exposed to serious problems. Recently hairy root research for production of important secondary metabolites has received a lot of attention. We studied the possibility of hairy root induction، on F. gummosis B. using four strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (15834، A4، 1724،2659) by infecting different explants (hypocotyle، cotyledons، leaf، 10-14 day old embryo and callus). Effects of three levels of hormone free MS medium (1، ½، 1/4) on hairy root production were examined. Results showed that different kinds of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and explants were affected by hairy root induction. Fourteen days after infection، only، 10-14 day old embryos produced hairy root by strain 15834. MS1/2 medium was effective for root emergence. In comparison with testifier، successful genetic transformations containing T-DNA، were confirmed by PCR.