S04 - Session P1 - New Tools II - Development of a platform for the biotechnological appropiation of native plants of the mexican Bajio region

Authors: Andres Cruz-Hernandez *, Fernando Olvera-Martínez, Sergio Junquera-Martinez, Jose de Jesus Ramirez-Duran, Daira Aceves-Monreal, Bernardo Bañuelos-Hernandez, Froylan Albarran-Tamayo, Pedro Luis Lopez de Alba

In the mexican state of Guanajuato and the Bajio region, a large number of native plants with ecological, medical and industrial potential have been identified, these plants have been linked to the traditions and customs of the population, but they have not received more extensive attention for their potential usefulness, tissue culture associated with genomic tools can help the development of systems that allow a rational use. The objective of this work was to develop a biotechnological platform for the production of metabolites of commercial interest in marigold ( Tagetes erecta ) and Heliopsis longipes in a controlled way. In the initial stage of the project, the in vitro cultures of these two plants were established, the in vitro root and callus cultures were set up successfully using different concentrations of auxins and cytokinins. Later, with molecular analysis was possible to identify the microRNAs and messenger RNAs associated with the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The miRNAs whose expression was specific in roots and calli (miR156, miR164 and miR171) were selected, their expression in the in vitro culture systems and their RNAm targets were analyzed and associated to a specific metabolic pathways, (taxanes and flavonoids). The production of secondary metabolites in the cultures was determined by TLC and HPLC and associated to the molecular analysis; in order to establish a metabolite induction system under controlled conditions.