Abstract
This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Domenico Mariotti, who significantly contributed to establishing the Italian research community in Agricultural Genetics and carried out the first experiments of Agrobacterium-mediated plant genetic transformation and regeneration in Italy during the 1980s. Following his scientific interests as guiding principles, this review summarizes the recent advances obtained in plant biotechnology and fundamental research aiming to: (i) Exploit in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures to induce genetic variability and to produce useful metabolites; (ii) gain new insights into the biochemical function of Agrobacterium rhizogenes rol genes and their application to metabolite production, fruit tree transformation, and reverse genetics; (iii) improve genetic transformation in legume species, most of them recalcitrant to regeneration; (iv) untangle the potential of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors in plant morphogenesis as key regulators of hormonal homeostasis; and (v) elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the transition from juvenility to the adult phase in Prunus tree species.
Highlights
In the 1990’s, plant biotechnology experienced a remarkable development, exerting a significant impact on genetics for crop improvement in agricultural sciences
10 years,onfollowing the scientific accomplished in the last years, following the scientific lines drawn by his many contributions to the lines drawn by his many contributions to the field of cellular and molecular biotechnology in plants field of cellular and molecular biotechnology in approach plants of agricultural interest
The sunflower in the in vitro production system confirmed that a certain degree of variability, often characterizing plant cell cultures, could be useful to identify highly productive cell lines
Summary
In the 1990’s, plant biotechnology experienced a remarkable development, exerting a significant impact on genetics for crop improvement in agricultural sciences. Mariotti were very much influenced by this trend, focusing on in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures of important crop species, as valuable starting tools for genetic improvement, by selecting or inducing plant genome changes. This promising scientific approach let him foresee significant achievements for applied research, as well as the possibility to add relevant new knowledge to the molecular mechanisms. His research research spanned spanned from from basic basic research research to to applied applied biotechnology, biotechnology, foreseeing foreseeing the the great great potential potential of of His in vitro tissue culture for plant and cropand genetic improvement. All in the figure have taken bybeen the authors theauthors paper. of the paper
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