The development of biotechnological www.selleckchem.com/products/Axitinib.html tools has made it possible to overcome some of these problems. In the specific case of citrus breeding programs, somatic hybridization [12�C14] and genetic transformation [12, 15, 16] have been applied in many countries [10, 12, 17, 18].In recent years, there has been a major thrust in citrus improvement as competition from international citrus markets, disease, and pest pressure and other abiotic and biotic stress conditions stimulate worldwide interest [19, 20]. Several strategies exist for the genetic improvement of citrus including conventional breeding and genetic transformation [20, 21]. Currently, genetic transformation of citrus as a tool for citrus improvement is gaining popularity.

This method is especially useful in cases where it is not possible to introduce a particular trait of interest to another elite cultivar using conventional breeding. Citrus cultivars vary in their response to in vitro organogenesis and genetic transformation. This results in the need for cultivar-specific optimization of in vitro protocols [20, 22]. Among the several methods available for the genetic transformation of citrus, the most popular method to transform a wide range of citrus cultivars is Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using epicotyl explants as target cells for incorporation of the T-DNA [20, 23]. However, this method is not suitable for the transformation of any seedless cultivar. Also, special cultivars in the mandarin group remain robust to transform using this method [20, 22, 24]. 2.

Transformation Studies in Citrus Genetic transformation and somatic hybridization Drug_discovery studies are already integrated in Citrus breeding programs in several countries. Genetic transformation of Citrus is a promising tool that enables the introduction of desirable traits without altering the genetic background [25]. Genetic transformation of citrus has been reported, by using several methods (Table 1).Table 1Transformation researches in citrus.Agrobacterium has been the most frequently used genetic transformation method in Citrus with explants collected from seedlings germinated in vitro or under greenhouse conditions [68]. Transformation studies have been done for two decades in citrus. In the last few years, different transformation methods such as RNA silencing are used. In order to carry out successful gene transformation studies in citrus, optimized in vitro regeneration protocol is needed.