Literature reports that roots are source of important compounds possessing pharmaceutical properties. So, we have oriented our work toward the transgenic root establishment of O. basilicum obtained from Agrobacterium rhizogenes, a natural bacterium of the soil responsible for the formation of the "hairy root". This genetic transformation was achieved from the leaves and segments of stems allowed to initiate of abundant roots, displaying the typical characteristics of the hairy root syndrome, as a rapid growth on solid and in liquid media without hormones. The root initiation seems to arise from the target cells near to the inner and outer phloem after mother plant infection. A bacterial inoculation at the central nervure level of the leaves led to an efficient and original protocol of transformation. Indeed numerous transgenic root clones, from Ocimum explants, could be obtained.
Finally, the transformed state of the roots was confirmed by molecular analysis showing the obvious integration of the genes rol of A. rhizogenes responsible of the "hairy root" phenotype.