Factors influencing successful Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of wheat

Plant Cell Rep. 2003 Mar;21(7):659-68. doi: 10.1007/s00299-002-0564-7. Epub 2003 Jan 16.

Abstract

The development of a robust Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for a recalcitrant species like bread wheat requires the identification and optimisation of the factors affecting T-DNA delivery and plant regeneration. We have used immature embryos from range of wheat varieties and the Agrobacterium strain AGL1 harbouring the pGreen-based plasmid pAL156, which contains a T-DNA incorporating the bar gene and a modified uidA (beta-glucuronidase) gene, to investigate and optimise major T-DNA delivery and tissue culture variables. Factors that produced significant differences in T-DNA delivery and regeneration included embryo size, duration of pre-culture, inoculation and co-cultivation, and the presence of acetosyringone and Silwet-L77 in the media. We fully describe a protocol that allowed efficient T-DNA delivery and gave rise to 44 morphologically normal, and fully fertile, stable transgenic plants in two wheat varieties. The transformation frequency ranged from 0.3% to 3.3%. Marker-gene expression and molecular analysis demonstrated that transgenes were integrated into the wheat genome and subsequently transmitted into progeny at Mendelian ratios.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetophenones / pharmacology
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Glucuronidase / genetics
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / drug effects
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / physiology
  • Regeneration
  • Rhizobium / genetics*
  • Rhizobium / growth & development
  • Seeds / genetics
  • Seeds / physiology
  • Transformation, Genetic*
  • Triticum / genetics*

Substances

  • Acetophenones
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • T-DNA
  • acetosyringone
  • Glucuronidase