Pollen-tube-pathway-mediated transformation takes advantage of the natural pollination process in higher plants. After pollen germinates on the stigma surface, the pollen tube extends towards the ovule along the style, carrying the pollen nucleus to fertilize the ovule. This technique removes the stigma immediately after pollination, allowing the exogenous DNA to be transported to the recipient plant’s ovary by the pollen tube growth. As a result, the exogenous DNA integrates with the undivided but fertilized recipient egg, becoming part of the recipient’s genome at the embryogenic stage.
This revolutionary technique offers several advantages over conventional methods:
1. Simplicity: Unlike particle bombardment, electroporation, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, pollen-tube-pathway-mediated transformation does not require protoplast manipulation, cell culture, or plant regeneration processes, making it more accessible and user-friendly for researchers.
2. Genetic Variation Avoidance: By avoiding protoplast manipulation and cell culture, this method minimizes the risk of genetic variations such as mutation and methylation, ensuring more accurate and consistent results.
3. Genotype Independence: Unlike Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, which is often limited by the explant/species genotype, pollen-tube-pathway-mediated transformation is not restricted by genotype, making it applicable to a wider range of plant species.