Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of groundnut with coat protein gene of Tobacco streak virus

Transgenic peanut/groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) lines with sense and antisense coat protein (CP) gene of Tobacco streak virus (TSV) were generated by Agrobacterium- mediated transformation of deembryonated cotyledons of cultivar JL-24. Approximately 180–200 days were required between explant transformation and hardening of transformants in the glasshouse. Genomic Southern analysis revealed two transgenic lines (S15, AS2) with single copy and one transgenic line (S3) with two copies of the CP gene. Northern analysis indicated the presence of CP transcript in transgenic lines with CP gene in sense as well as antisense orientation. CP expression was observed in transgenic lines with sense CP gene (S3, S15) by ELISA. Evaluation of the transgenic lines for resistance to TSV is in progress.