Transgenic shoots and plants as a source of natural phytochemical products

Abstract

Genetic engineering has allowed the production of plants and in vitro cultures with an altered content of secondary metabolites. In the present work it is hoped to give some detailed background information on obtaining bioactive compounds based on the use of genetically transformed shoots and the whole plants. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated shoots have recently been a matter of great interest as a source of chemicals synthesized in the aerial parts of plants. The possibilities for the future exploitation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation techniques are enormous. However, we need more knowledge of genes and enzymes controlling secondary metabolic synthesis.