Indonesian Journal of Biotechnology
Vol 31, No 3 (2026)

A modified Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method for Indonesian soybean varieties with Cry1Ab-1Ac fusion genes

Nanda Adya Sasmita (Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Jl. Meranti, Dramaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia)
Bambang Sapta Purwoko (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Jl. Meranti, Dramaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia)
Edy Listanto (Research Center for Genetic Engineering, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl. Raya Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia)
Sintho Wahyuning Ardie (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Jl. Meranti, Dramaga Campus, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia)
Eny Ida Riyanti (Research Center for Genetic Engineering, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl. Raya Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2026

Abstract

Grobogan and Wilis are major Indonesian soybean varieties, but their productivity is constrained by pod borer (Etiella zinckenella) susceptibility. While genetic transformation can aid in developing insect-resistant cultivars, the protocols for these local genotypes are limited by low regeneration efficiency. This study aims to develop an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol using plumular meristem explants by optimizing infection duration and acetosyringone concentration, along with the evaluation of an ex vitro approach for post-transformation recovery. To establish a baseline for transformation, regeneration was optimized; shoot induction on MS medium with 1 mg/L BAP reached 85%, averaging 3.6 shoots per explant. Although this optimal BAP concentration was subsequently applied to the in vitro transformation system, it yielded no surviving putative plants after infection. In contrast, the modified ex vitro approach revealed a clear trade-off: a short 15-min infection with 100 µM acetosyringone maximized shoot elongation (67.5%), whereas a longer 30-min infection with 200 µM acetosyringone achieved transformation efficiency up to 17.5%. PCR analysis confirmed transgenes in 10–13 T0 plants, producing 37 T1 seeds, predominantly from Wilis, while Grobogan exhibited lower performance. The study demonstrates that the ex vitro approach is a practical strategy for soybean transformation.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijbiotech

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Immunology & microbiology Materials Science & Nanotechnology

Description

The Indonesian Journal of Biotechnology (IJBiotech) is an open access, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the publication of novel research in all aspects of biotechnology, with particular attention paid to the exploration and development of natural products derived from ...