Center for Plant Biotechnology Research

The Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) Center for Plant Biotechnology Research was established to support projects at BTI that utilize genetic engineering and plant cell culture. The center is set up to provide plant transformations on a fee-based service for all BTI researchers. Center personnel are experienced at Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of tomato, potato, Nicotiana tabacum, Nicotiana benthamiana, Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon.

We are also available for instruction on transformation methods and for development of methodologies for plant species other than those currently being done in the center. The center is open to postdoctoral and research associates, graduate students, visiting scientists, and research assistants who are interested in using the facility to do their own plant cell/tissue culture and plant transformations.

Plants on shelves in a growth chamber

Plant Transformation Requests

Overview

  • The Boyce Thompson Institute Center for Plant Biotechnology Research is set up for Agrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated transformation of the plant species listed in the Species and Fees table (below). Transformation requests will be performed in the order they are received.
  • If there are no negative effects on plant regeneration as a result of expression or knockout of the gene of interest, then the expected recovery per experiment is 5 – 10 independent transgenic lines.
  • We root putative transgenic lines on selection medium. Rooted plants are moved forward as independent lines. We do not do PCR analysis as part of this work.
  • Transgenic lines will be provided as rooted plants in test tubes.
  • If you are submitting a transformation request for the first time or have questions regarding this guideline, please contact Qingzhen Jiang for more information.

Plant Transformation Request Process

  • Complete one transformation request form for each construct.
  • Send at least 5 ul of plasmid DNA in water at a concentration of 50 – 200 ng/ul
  • Integrity of the construct(s) needs to be verified.
  • Provide FedEx account number to cover the cost of shipping your transgenic lines.
  • Soon after placing a request, apply for an interstate movement permit (BRS Notification) for genetically engineered plants.
    • Select “ePermits” to start the process of acquiring an interstate movement permit (BRS Notification) under “Biotechnology Permits”
    • Here is another link with helpful information for applying for an interstate movement of genetically engineered material.
  • After you receive the permit, provide permit documentation (application and interstate movement permit/acknowledgment letter) in pdf format to Qingzhen Jiang (qj37@cornell.edu).

Please acknowledge the BTI Center for Plant Biotechnology Research in publications that result from work based on transgenic lines we provided. The url for the Boyce Thompson: btiscience.org

Please note: As we all know, research does not always go according to plan. Every effort will be made to recover transgenic lines, however, if unforeseen obstacles arise, your request might be delayed or not be completed with delivery of transgenic lines. Based on our experience, these obstacles might include the following: a gene of interest that results in lethality or affects plant development, seeds that contain a contaminant that is difficult to eradicate, a construct containing a selectable marker gene that is not efficiently expressed due to cloning errors or the promoter. Often times, it is well into a transformation experiment before it can be determined there is a problem, which could be after a significant amount of time and effort have already been invested. To defray the expenses of this effort and any troubleshooting necessary to determine the problem, 25 – 80% of the per-construct fee will be charged depending upon the effort (labor and supplies) invested.

2024 Species and Fees Table
Species Genotype Selection Fees
      Campus Off-campus
Tomato and related species M82, MoneyMaker, RG-PtoR, LA1589, Alisa Craig Kanamycin $1190 $1820
S. pimpinellifolium   Kanamycin $1190 $1820
S. prinophyllum     $1190 $1820
Physalis ZL05 Kanamycin $1190 $1820
Eggplant   Kanamycin $1190  
Potato Desiree Kanamycin $1250 $1900
Brachypodium distachyon Bd21-3 Hygromycin $1310 $2165
Medicago truncatula R108 Glufosinate, kanamycin $1730 $2600
Alfalfa SY4D Hygromycin, kanamycin, glufosinate $1300 $1950
Switchgrass NFCX01 Hygromycin $1500 $1985
Barley Golden Promise Hygromycin $1280 $2000
Setaria ME034 Hygromycin $1515 $2275
Wheat Fielder Hygromycin $1600 $2400
N. benthamiana   Hygromycin $1190 $1800

Stock Lists

Vector List
Agrobacterium List

To arrange a time to receive vectors and Agrobacterium strains, send an email to Qingzhen Jiang.

Plates of medium will NOT be provided. You need to bring your own plates of the appropriate medium. Sterile 1000 ul tips will be provided to use for streaking plates from glycerol stocks.

It is important that glycerol stocks remain frozen while you are streaking plates.

BTI logo shown in a petri dish

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