Papers by Griselda Arrieta-Espinoza
Methods in molecular biology, 2024
Revista De Biologia Tropical, Sep 1, 2004
Genetic engineering and the food derived from genetically modified crops (GMCs) have been the cen... more Genetic engineering and the food derived from genetically modified crops (GMCs) have been the center of debate worldwide, as has occurred historically with the advent of new technologies. Questions are derived from the potential impact of GMCs to the environment and the safety of the products to the consumers. In relation to the first inquiry, practice has been oriented to a case-by-case-study, according to the own characteristics of the GMC, in order to minimize its impact in the environment. Scientific studies in diverse latitudes of the world have demonstrated that GMCs in the market showed no adverse effects related to this issue. In relation to food derived from the GMCs, rigorous evaluation protocols have been developed and approved by FAO and WHO to guarantee the innocuousness of these products. Up to the moment, no contraindications for human health have been pointed out for the products that are available today in the market. In the particular case of Costa Rica, the country has established since the 90s a regulatory biosafety framework for the management of the GMCs, safeguarding the biodiversity of the country and the health of consumers. At the same time the country has made significant public and private investments in the field that allowed the country to obtain a leading position in biosafety in the region and genetic engineering research at national research centers. Any attempt to restrict or prohibit these activities in the country, will put in risk the previously described investment, will affect the generation of new knowledge for decision making and the leadership in the field, preventing the benefits derived from this promising technology.
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, Jan 15, 2008
A protocol for Coffea arabica L. cvs. Caturra and Catuaí plant regeneration via indirect somatic ... more A protocol for Coffea arabica L. cvs. Caturra and Catuaí plant regeneration via indirect somatic embryogenesis (ISE) was established. Furthermore, a biolistic mediated genetic transformation protocol was optimized for Catuaí callus aggregates. Maximum callus induction was obtained when Caturra (87%) and Catuaí (67%) leaves were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium with 18.56 µM kinetin and 4.52 µM2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Catuaí suspension cultures were established from embryogenic callus using liquid proliferation CP and Sli media and diffused light and darkness. The higher suspension cultures fresh weight was obtained using Erlenmeyer (1425.4 ± 354.9 mg) than Recipient for Automated Temporary Immersion System (RITA ®) (518.6 ± 55.1 mg), whereas *Corresponding author the dry weight of suspension cultures was not significantly affected by the culture system used. Higher number of embryos per vessel (307.6 ± 49.0) and their fresh weight (9.6 ± 1.5 mg) were obtained with semisolid R medium than S3 medium. The highest somatic embryo development (25.0 ± 2.7) and fresh weight (780.0 ± 85.4 mg) were obtained with 1 min of immersion every 8 hrs. Higher fresh weight of regenerated plantlets was obtained with liquid Yasuda medium in RITA® (124.6 ± 16.3 mg) than semisolid media (36.3 ± 11.3 mg). For genetic transformation, the effect of helium pressure (900 and 1550 psi), and target distance (9 and 12 cm) and plasmid (pCAMBIA 1301, pCAMBIA 1305.2 and pCAMBIA 1301-BAR) on transient uidA expression Catuaí suspension cultures
Plants
The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, an... more The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results. A total of 4587 unique seed samples from at least 355 CWR taxa were collected, conserved ex situ, safety duplicated in national and international genebanks, and made available through the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). Collections of CWR were made for all 28 targeted crops. Potato and eggplant were the most collected genepools, although the greatest number of primary genepool collections were made for rice. Overall, alfalf...
Psidium friedrichsthalianum Ndz es una especie nativa de América Central distribuida desde el sur... more Psidium friedrichsthalianum Ndz es una especie nativa de América Central distribuida desde el sur de México hasta el norte de Colombia. Es un componente frutal común de la dieta costarricense, y es valorado industrialmente por su alto contenido de polifenoles, principalmente proantocianidinas (PAC). Este cultivo no está completamente domesticado y no hay variedades mejoradas producidas a través del fitomejoramiento. El tamaño del genoma o los niveles de ploidía no se han investigado en las poblaciones costarricenses de Psidium friedrichsthalianum . La información sobre el número de cromosomas y el tamaño del genoma es primordial para las estrategias de fitomejoramiento. Por lo tanto, el objetivo principal de nuestro estudio fue determinar el número de cromosomas utilizando meiocitos de polen y el tamaño del genoma mediante citometría de flujo en seis poblaciones de P. friedrichsthalianumen Costa Rica Encontramos x = 11 cromosomas bivalentes en todos los meiocitos analizados, clasifi...
Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2019
of somatic embryos was obtained using semisolid medium supplemented with 8.8 μM BAP, and 2.85 μM ... more of somatic embryos was obtained using semisolid medium supplemented with 8.8 μM BAP, and 2.85 μM IAA. Using these protocols, somatic embryos were directly induced using leaf sections of in vitro plants of both coffee cultivars within 8 weeks. The somatic embryos developed into rooted plants with a 100% survival rate upon transfer to the greenhouse.
Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 2019
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has been used to co... more Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has been used to confer crop resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and to improve crop yields and nutritional quality. However, lack of consumer acceptance could potentially restrict the development and further commercialization of CRISPR crops. Therefore, a survey among 1018 adults in Costa Rica was conducted to analyze perceptions and attitudes toward the production and potential consumption of CRISPR/Cas9 crops. Regarding knowledge of gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9, 3.7% of the interviewees had heard or read a little (1.9%), some (1.2%), or a lot (0.6%) about the topic. In general, a high percentage of Costa Rican consumers would accept the use of gene editing for nature conservation (84.5%), curing diseases in animals (83.0%), crop improvement (80.9%) and curing human diseases (80.2%). Regarding potential benefits, interviewees agreed that CRISPR foods would increase crop production in the country (66.0%), improve the economy (63.7%), and bring benefits to their families (60.7%) and the environment (57.4%). Nearly half of the interviewees perceived low or no risk to the quality of life, health, and environment. A higher percentage would consume CRISPR foods if the nutritional quality were better (70.8%), if they were cheaper than conventional products (61.0%), and if they were available in the national market (59.4%). Finally, approximately half of the interviewees would be willing to purchase a kilo of rice or beans (traditional Costa Rican food products) if they were priced the same as conventional products. Key message Our survey among Costa Rica adults showed a little knowledge about gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9. Nevertheless, a high percentage of consumers would accept the use of gene editing for different purposes, and agree that CRISPR foods could bring potential benefits for crop production the economy, and the environment.
Journal of Experimental Botany
The wild relatives of rice hold unexplored genetic diversity that can be employed to feed an esti... more The wild relatives of rice hold unexplored genetic diversity that can be employed to feed an estimated population of 10 billion by 2050. The Oryza Map Alignment Project (OMAP) initiated in 2003 has provided comprehensive genomic resources for comparative, evolutionary, and functional characterization of the wild relatives of rice, facilitating the cloning of >600 rice genes, including those for grain width (GW5) and submergence tolerance (SUB1A). Following in the footsteps of the original project, the goal of ‘IOMAP: the Americas’ is to investigate the present and historic genetic diversity of wild Oryza species endemic to the Americas through the sequencing of herbaria and in situ specimens. The generation of a large diversity panel describing past and current genetic status and potential erosion of genetic variation in the populations will provide useful knowledge for the conservation of the biodiversity in these species. The wild relatives of rice in the Americas present a wid...
Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. However, g... more Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. However, gene flow from cultivated species into wild species may prove detrimental. Introgression may lead to changes in wild species by incorporating alleles from domesticated species, which may increase the likelihood of extinction. The objective of the present study is to analyze how genetic diversity is distributed within and among populations of the wild rice species Oryza glumaepatula in Costa Rica. We also evaluated if there is evidence of introgression between wild rice and commercial varieties of O. sativa since it is cultivated commonly in close proximity to wild rice populations. Individuals from all known O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica were collected. With the aid of 455 AFLP markers, we characterized the genetic diversity and structure among seven populations in northern Costa Rica. Given the dominant nature of our markers, Bayesian estimates of genetic structure were used....
PeerJ, 2016
Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Diversity ... more Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Diversity estimates are generally lacking for many wild crop relatives. The objective of the present study was to analyze how genetic diversity is distributed within and among populations of the wild rice species Oryza glumaepatula in Costa Rica. We also evaluated the likelihood of gene flow between wild and commercial rice species because the latter is commonly sympatric with wild rice populations. Introgression may change wild species by incorporating alleles from domesticated species, increasing the risk of losing original variation. Specimens from all known O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica were analyzed with 444 AFLP markers to characterize genetic diversity and structure. We also compared genetic diversity estimates between O. glumaepatula specimens and O. sativa commercial rice. Our results showed that O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica have moderately high levels of genetic ...
Plant regeneration via indirect somatic embryogenesis and optimisation of genetic transformation ... more Plant regeneration via indirect somatic embryogenesis and optimisation of genetic transformation in Coffea arabica L. cvs. Caturra and Catuaí
Agronomía Mesoamericana
Introducción. La transformación del arroz (Oryza sativa L. ssp indica) mediada por Agrobacterium,... more Introducción. La transformación del arroz (Oryza sativa L. ssp indica) mediada por Agrobacterium, representa una oportunidad para la investigación científica y el mejoramiento genético. Es necesaria la optimización del protocolo para obtener la mayor eficiencia de transformación. Objetivo. Evaluar diferentes factores que afectan la transformación genética en callos embriogénicos de arroz de la subespecie indica vía Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Materiales y métodos. Este estudio se realizó en San José, Costa Rica, entre 2012 y 2014. En seis tratamientos se evaluaron: el efecto de la edad del callo, la concentración de acetosiringona, condición luminosa, la presencia o ausencia de radícula y la cepa de Agrobacterium tumefaciens en la transformación genética de callos embriogénicos de arroz de la variedad CR5272 con el gen reportero gus. Se compararon la cepa de Agrobacterium LBA4404 con el plásmido pCAMBIA1305.2 y las cepas ATHV, GV3101 y LBA4404, con el plásmido pCAMBIA1303; mediante p...
PeerJ, 2016
Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Diversity ... more Wild crop relatives are an important source of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Diversity estimates are generally lacking for many wild crop relatives. The objective of the present study was to analyze how genetic diversity is distributed within and among populations of the wild rice species Oryza glumaepatula in Costa Rica. We also evaluated the likelihood of gene flow between wild and commercial rice species because the latter is commonly sympatric with wild rice populations. Introgression may change wild species by incorporating alleles from domesticated species, increasing the risk of losing original variation. Specimens from all known O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica were analyzed with 444 AFLP markers to characterize genetic diversity and structure. We also compared genetic diversity estimates between O. glumaepatula specimens and O. sativa commercial rice. Our results showed that O. glumaepatula populations in Costa Rica have moderately high levels of genetic ...
Revista de Biología Tropical, 2014
With the purpose of increasing the embryogenesis regeneration process in vitroplants obtained fro... more With the purpose of increasing the embryogenesis regeneration process in vitroplants obtained from somatic embryos of the indica rice variety CR-5272 (Oryza sativa L.), two independent experiments were performed. The first experiment consisted in the effect of combination of three concentrations of the gelling agent Phytagel (1.8, 2.4, and 3 gL -1 ) and four 2,4-D concentrations (2.26, 4.52, 6.78, and 9.05 M) on the induction and subsequent regeneration of embryogenic calli. On the second experiment, the pre-regeneration phase was modified; calli were subjected to darkness or diffuse light conditions for one, two, and three weeks. In embryogenesis induction, 35% calligenesis was obtained using the MS culture medium supplemented with 6.78 M of 2,4-D and 2.4 gL -1 Phytagel , whereas on the control treatment (MS medium supplemented with 9.05 M of 2,4-D and 3 gL -1 Phytagel ) 24% calligenesis was obtained. In addition, regeneration percentages were improved (22% and 16% for calli induced with the above treatments, respectively). Furthermore, in light exposure experiments, the best result was obtained by exposing the embryogenic calli to darkness for one week in pre-regeneration, followed by direct light exposure during the regeneration phase. Rev. Biol. Trop. 53(3-4): 361-368. Epub 2005 Oct 3.
Prior to the release of Costa Rican transgenic rice varieties resistant to ammonium gluphosinate ... more Prior to the release of Costa Rican transgenic rice varieties resistant to ammonium gluphosinate (PPT), an integrated risk assessment evaluation is required, to determine the potential environmental impact of gene flow to native wild Oryza species and the weedy rice complex. Populations of the wild relatives of rice were identified, located and characterized by CIBCM throughout the country. This study demonstrated that Costa Rica is home for three of the four wild Oryza species native to tropical America: O. glumaepatula, O. latifolia and O. grandiglumis. O. glumaepatula is the species more closely related to cultivated rice, O. sativa, sharing AA-type genome, while the others are allotetraploid, with CCDD genomes. The genetic relationship of O. glumaepatula and the cultivated rice raises concerns about gene flow from cultivated rice to these natural populations, particularly, in the Medio Queso wetlands located in the north part of Costa Rica, where the two species grow in near proximity. In order to fill the gap on knowledge about the reproductive biology of O. glumaepatula, progeny studies were perfomed using molecular markers O. glumaepatula mother plants and their progenies were analyzed using fluorescent microsatellites, demonstrating that O. glumaepatula is predominantly autogamous but occasionally behaves as a facultative allogamous species. To study the compatibility between O. glumaepatula and O. sativa, artificial crosses were performed between both species. The hybrid nature of F1 seeds was confirmed using fluorescent microsatellites. In addition, the hybrid seeds obtained were planted in greenhouse and twelve morphological traits were evaluated. As expected, the morphology of the hybrids glumaepatula-sativa showed intermediate characters but they were sterile.
With the purpose of increasing the embryogenesis regeneration process in vitroplants obtained fro... more With the purpose of increasing the embryogenesis regeneration process in vitroplants obtained from somatic embryos of the indica rice variety CR-5272 (Oryza sativa L.), two independent experiments were performed. The first experiment consisted in the effect of combination of three concentrations of the gelling agent Phytagel (1.8, 2.4, and 3 gL -1 ) and four 2,4-D concentrations (2.26, 4.52, 6.78, and 9.05 M) on the induction and subsequent regeneration of embryogenic calli. On the second experiment, the pre-regeneration phase was modified; calli were subjected to darkness or diffuse light conditions for one, two, and three weeks. In embryogenesis induction, 35% calligenesis was obtained using the MS culture medium supplemented with 6.78 M of 2,4-D and 2.4 gL -1 Phytagel , whereas on the control treatment (MS medium supplemented with 9.05 M of 2,4-D and 3 gL -1 Phytagel ) 24% calligenesis was obtained. In addition, regeneration percentages were improved (22% and 16% for calli induced with the above treatments, respectively). Furthermore, in light exposure experiments, the best result was obtained by exposing the embryogenic calli to darkness for one week in pre-regeneration, followed by direct light exposure during the regeneration phase. Rev. Biol. Trop. 53(3-4): 361-368. Epub 2005 Oct 3.
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 2008
A protocol for Coffea arabica L. cvs. Caturra and Catuaí plant regeneration via indirect somatic ... more A protocol for Coffea arabica L. cvs. Caturra and Catuaí plant regeneration via indirect somatic embryogenesis (ISE) was established. Furthermore, a biolistic mediated genetic transformation protocol was optimized for Catuaí callus aggregates. Maximum callus induction was obtained when Caturra (87%) and Catuaí (67%) leaves were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium with 18.56 µM kinetin and 4.52 µM2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Catuaí suspension cultures were established from embryogenic callus using liquid proliferation CP and Sli media and diffused light and darkness. The higher suspension cultures fresh weight was obtained using Erlenmeyer (1425.4 ± 354.9 mg) than Recipient for Automated Temporary Immersion System (RITA ® ) (518.6 ± 55.1 mg), whereas *Corresponding author the dry weight of suspension cultures was not significantly affected by the culture system used. Higher number of embryos per vessel (307.6 ± 49.0) and their fresh weight (9.6 ± 1.5 mg) were obtained with semisolid R medium than S3 medium. The highest somatic embryo development (25.0 ± 2.7) and fresh weight (780.0 ± 85.4 mg) were obtained with 1 min of immersion every 8 hrs. Higher fresh weight of regenerated plantlets was obtained with liquid Yasuda medium in RITA® (124.6 ± 16.3 mg) than semisolid media (36.3 ± 11.3 mg). For genetic transformation, the effect of helium pressure (900 and 1550 psi), and target distance (9 and 12 cm) and plasmid (pCAMBIA 1301, pCAMBIA 1305.2 and pCAMBIA 1301-BAR) on transient uidA expression Catuaí suspension cultures
Planta Daninha, 2007
The variability in the chronology of the vegetative and reproductive development of weedy rice co... more The variability in the chronology of the vegetative and reproductive development of weedy rice complex has been little studied. However, a field trial was established to study the timing of growth stages of sixteen weedy rice morphotypes and five rice varieties of Costa Rica. Weedy rice presented a wide range of variation for all descriptors among and within morphotypes. Weedy rice was taller than the rice varieties during vegetative phase and showed a growth increase of 14-23 cm every two weeks. Six morphotypes emerged earlier than commercial rice varieties, but no differences where found between samples for the time required for starting tillering. Early emergence of weedy rice morphotypes was not associated with early flowering, thus no correlation was detected between the vegetative and reproductive phases. All weedy rice morphotypes reached anthesis and maturity earlier than the rice varieties. Nevertheless, varieties Setesa-9 and CR-5272 overlapped anthesis with eleven morphotypes and variety CR-4338 overlapped flowering with eight weedy rice morphotypes. In contrast, none of the morphotypes overlapped anthesis with varieties CR-1821 and CR-1113. The results obtained showed the competitive capacity of weedy rice and provided valuable information about flowering overlap between weedy rice morphotypes and rice varieties which will be useful in the design of gene flow studies among them.
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Papers by Griselda Arrieta-Espinoza