Fluorescent Screening of Transformed Seeds

The creation of transgenic plants has greatly promoted the progress of plant research, especially in the characterization of gene functions and investigation of molecular mechanisms. Fluorescent proteins can be used as visual selection markers for the transformation of plants and crops. Commonly used fluorescent proteins include green fluorescent proteins (e.g., GFP, EGFP), red fluorescent proteins (e.g., DsRed, tdTomato, mCherry), and yellow fluorescent proteins (YFP). The use of fluorescent proteins with different spectral characteristics allows a rapid identification and genetic analysis of plant seeds and crop seeds.

Seed-specific expression of fluorescent protein permits the identification of mature transformed seeds in a large background of untransformed seeds using fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106. Tagging and screening transformed seeds using fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 provides an economical, high-throughput screening system with many practical applications in plant and crop biotechnology.

Drawbacks of Traditional Fluorescent Screening Method

In traditional fluorescent screening, a fluorescence microscope is used to view fluorescence of transformed seeds. However, this traditional screening method has several major drawbacks.

● First, for many labs, a fluorescence microscope is too expensive to afford.

● Second, fluorescent screening using fluorescence microscope is inefficient and time-consuming because researchers have to screen plant seeds one by one.

● Third, when performing fluorescent screening of genetically transformed seeds, it is necessary to view fluorescence in a dark environment. This is because ambient light may interfere with the fluorescence expression and make it difficult for researchers to identify transformed seeds. Thus, researchers have to look for a dark room.

A Novel Fluorescent Screening System: Fluorescence Cabinet GFPfinder-2106

To overcome these problems, XEPU Scientific developed a novel fluorescence screening system: fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106.

Fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 consists of a fluorescent protein lamp, a fluorescence viewing cabinet, and a matching barrier filter. With fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106, researchers can screen plant seeds in batches and identify transformed seeds anywhere and anytime, without the need for a dark room.

Figure below: Fluorescence Cabinet GFPfinder-2106 for fluorescent screening of plant seeds

Features of Fluorescence Cabinet GFPfinder-2106

● Economical: The cost of fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 is only a tenth of that of a fluorescence microscope.

● Batch screening: With a large internal space of 14.5 x 8.5 in, fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 can accomodate multiple sets of seeds for batch screening, leading to higher efficiency.

● An ideal substitute of traditional dark room: The fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 is made of black, non-fluorescent material which blocks interference from ambient light and provides optimal fluorescence viewing. With this portable, convenient fluorescence cabinet, there is no need to look for a dark room!

How to Perform Fluorescent Screening Using Fluorescence Cabinet GFPfinder-2106

The Fluorescence Cabinet GFPfinder-2106 is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use. Follow the steps below to identify transformed seeds in an efficient way:

1. Place the fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106 on a flat surface.

2. Connect the fluorescent protein lamp to the power supply. Turn on the lamp.

3. Place the seeds into the fluorescence cabinet.

4. View fluorescence through the matching barrier filter. Start screening transformed seeds!

Learn more about fluorescence cabinet GFPfinder-2106: technical data and selection guide