Functional characterization of kanB by complementing in engineered Streptomycesfradiae ?neo6::tsr

A putative aminotransferase gene, kanB, lies in the biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces kanamyceticus ATCC 12853 and has 66% identity with neo6 in neomycin biosynthesis. Streptomyces fradiae ∆neo6::tsr was generated by disrupting neo6 in the neomycin producer Streptomyces fradiae. Neomycin production was completely abolished in the disruptant mutant but was restored through self-complementation of neo6. S. fradiae HN4 was generated through complementation with kanB in Streptomyces fradiae ∆neo6::tsr. Based on metabolite analysis by ESI/MS and LC/MS, neomycin production was restored in Streptomyces fradiae HN4. Thus, like neo6, kanB also functions as a 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose aminotransferase that has dual functions in the formation of 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose (DOS). Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Mutational biosynthesis of neomycin analogs by a mutant of neomycin-producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces fradiae</Emphasis>

Neomycin, produced by Streptomyces fradiae, has been widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections in clinical and agricultural applications. In this study, a neomycin nonproducing mutant of S. fradiae was obtained by gene disruption technique for mutational biosynthesis. A crucial gene neoC (neo7) which encodes 2-deoxystreptamine (2-DOS) synthases was disrupted. The mutant could resume producing neomycin in the presence of 2-DOS. Salen derivatives of 2-DOS were synthesized and individually added to cultures of the mutant. Antibacterial activity of the mutasynthesis products against Staphylococcus aureus and four plant pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas solanacarum, Erwinia carotovora, Xanthomonas oryzae, and Xanthomonas campestris) was detected quantitatively by Oxford cup method. It is suggested that all 2-DOS derivatives were incorporated by the mutant into new active neomycin analogs except for 2-DOS derivative 2d ((1R,2r,3S,4R,6S)-4,6-bis((E)-3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)cyclohexane-1,2,3-triol). Neomycin analogs produced by feeding 2-DOS derivative 2a ((1R,2r,3S,4R,6S)-4,6-bis((E)-2 hydroxybenzylideneamino)cyclohexane-1,2,3-triol) to cultures of the mutant displayed a similar antibacterial activity with neomycin produced by wild strain.     

Cloning and expression of a tylosin resistance gene from a tylosin-producing strain of Streptomyces fradiae

Summary A gene conferring high-level resistance to tylosin in Streptomyces lividans and Streptomyces griseofuscus was cloned from a tylosin-producing strain of Streptomyces fradiae. The tylosin-resistance (Tyl^r) gene (tlrA) was isolated on five overlapping DNA fragments which contained a common 2.6 Kb KpnI fragment. The KpnI fragment contained all of the information required for the expression of the Tyl^r phenotype in S. lividans and S. griseofuscus. Southern hybridization indicated that the sequence conferring tylosin resistance was present on the same 5 kb SalI fragment in genomic DNA from S. fradiae and several tylosin-sensitive (Tyl^s) mutants. The cloned tlrA gene failed to restore tylosin resistance in two Tyl^s mutants derived by protoplast formation and regeneration, and it restored partial resistance in a Tyl^s mutant obtained by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) mutagenesis. The tlrA gene conferred resistance to tylosin, carbomycin, niddamycin, vernamycin-B and, to some degree, lincomycin in S. griseofuscus, but it had no effect on sensitivity to streptomycin or spectinomycin, suggesting that the cloned gene is an MLS (macrolide, lincosamide, streptogramin-B)-resistance gene. Twenty-eight kb of S. fradiae DNA surrounding the tlrA gene was isolated from a genomic library in bacteriophage Charon 4. Introduction of these DNA sequence into S. fradiae mutants blocked at different steps in tylosin biosynthesis failed to restore tylosin production, suggesting that the cloned Tyl^r gene is not closely linked to tylosin biosynthetic genes.     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a rhizobitoxine-producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bradyrhizobium</Emphasis> from pigeon pea plants

Out of a total of 8 bacterial strains isolated from the root nodules of pigeon pea plants grown in arid region, five were identified as rhizobia based on biochemical test and confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing. PCR based screening for the rtxA gene (involved in biosynthesis of rhizobitoxine) revealed that the gene was present in one strain identified biochemically and genetically as belonging to species Bradyrhizobium (BS KT-24). The strain was resistant to phosphomycin, nalidixic acid, kanamycin, gentamicin and neomycin but sensitive towards streptomycin and spectinomycin. Bioinformatic-tool-guided phylogenetic analysis of rtxA gene revealed its distinctiveness from other known rtxA genes (present in B. japonicum, B. elkanii and Xanthomonas oryzae). The rhizobitoxine producing strain BS KT-24 is considered to exhibit better survival and nodulation protection besides competitiveness for pigeon pea and other legumes grown under abiotic stress and, thus, be a candidate in practical aspect of rhizobitoxine production by rhizobium and its application as rhizobial inoculants.     

Highly transformable mutants of Streptomyces fradiae defective in several restriction systems

Summary Streptomyces fradiae JS85 is a mutant defective in tylosin production and an efficient recipient for conjugal transfer of tylosin genes. JS85 was mutagenized with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and derivatives defective in restriction were isolated by sequential selection for increased transformability by several plasmid DNAs. From the number of mutation and selection cycles required to eliminate most restriction, it was estimated that wild type S. fradiae expressed at least five restriction systems. From the patterns of restriction enzyme digestion of chromosomal DNA observed in the series of mutants that became progressively less restricting, it was suggested that wild type S. fradiae normally expresses modification (and presumably restriction) systems similar or analogous to PstI, XhoI, ScaI and EcoRI. The least restricting mutant of S. fradiae was readily transformable by many plasmids, including a bifunctional cosmid vector containing a large insert of Streptomyces DNA.     

Cloning of the blasticidin S deaminase gene (BSD) from Aspergillus terreus and its use as a selectable marker for Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Pyricularia oryzae

Aspergillus terreus produces a unique enzyme, blasticidin S deaminase, which catalyzes the deamination of blasticidin S (BS), and in consequence confers high resistance to the antibiotic. A cDNA clone derived from the structural gene for BS deaminase (BSD) was isolated by transforming Escherichia coli with an Aspergillus cDNA expression library and directly selecting for the ability to grow in the presence of the antibiotic. The complete nucleotide sequene of BSD was determined and proved to contain an open reading frame of 393 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 130 amino acids. Comparison of its nulceotide sequence with that of bsr, the BS deaminase gene isolated from Bacillus cereus, indicated no homology and a large difference in codon usage. The activity of BSD expressed in E. coli was easily quantified by an assay based on spectrophotometric recording. The BSD gene was placed in a shuttle vector for Schizosaccharomyces pombe, downstream of the SV40 early region promoter, and this allowed direct selection with BS at high frequency, following transformation into the yeast. The BSD gene was also employed as a selectable marker for Pyricularia oryzae, which could not be transformed to BS resistance by bsr. These results promise that the BSD gene will be useful as a new dominant selectable marker for eukaryotes.     

Ultrastructural aspects of kranz anatomy inDigitaria sanguinalis andSetaria viridis (poaceae)

Structural differentiation of Kranz anatomy has been investigated in leaf cross sections of two C-4 Poaceae:Digitaria sanguinalis andSetaria viridis. The study mainly focused on cellular and interfacial features of bundle sheath (BS) and mesophyll (MS) cells of the C-4 structure. Prominent BS, spaced by only two MS cells apart, were surrounded concentrically by a layer of MS cells. BS cells ofS. viridis had centrifugally arranged relatively large chloroplasts containing much starch, but the chloroplasts had agrana to rudimentary grana. Structural and size dimorphisms, when starch was present, were detected between BS and MS chloroplasts. Loosely arranged MS cells had peripherally displaced smaller chloroplasts containing little to none starch. BS chloroplasts ofD. sanguinalis were similar to those ofS. viridis, but had very little starch and well-developed long agranal stroma lamella. Features of MS cells were similar in both species, but well-defined peripheral reticulum (PR) was easily recognized in MS chloroplasts ofS. viridis. Virtually no PR was developed in BS chloroplasts examined. BS cells contained more mitochondria and microbodies, but no structural dimorphism was noticed. The electron-dense suberized lamella were often observed between BS and MS cells, especially in the primary wall of BS cells. It was most frequently found at the BS and MS cell interfaces and terminated in radial walls of the adjacent BS cells. Prominent pits with plasmodesmata (pd) were seen in the walls of both cells. There also were numerous pd in outer tangential walls of the BS cells. The number of pd ranged from 20 to 60. The pd trasversed a segment of cell wall much thinner than the adjacent wall. The current cellular data have been compared to the ultrastructural features known in leaves of other C-4 plants, especially NADP-ME species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated genetic transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis>

A reproducible plant regeneration and an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation protocol were developed for Perilla frutescens (perilla). The largest number of adventitious shoots were induced directly without an intervening callus phase from hypocotyl explants on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). The effects of preculture and extent of cocultivation were examined by assaying -glucuronidase (GUS) activity in explants infected with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the plasmid pIG121-Hm. The highest number of GUS-positive explants were obtained from hypocotyl explants cocultured for 3 days with Agrobacterium without precultivation. Transgenic perilla plants were regenerated and selected on MS basal medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l BA, 125 mg/l kanamycin, and 500 mg/l carbenicillin. The transformants were confirmed by PCR of the neomycin phosphotransferase II gene and genomic Southern hybridization analysis of the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene. The frequency of transformation from hypocotyls was about 1.4%, and the transformants showed normal growth and sexual compatibility by producing progenies.     

Investigations on neomycin production with immobilized cells of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces marinensis</Emphasis> Nuv-5 in calcium alginate matrix

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect ofStreptomyces marinensis NUV-5 cells immobilized in calcium alginate for the production of neomycin. The effect of various parameters, such as the effect of alginate concentration (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% wt/vol), the effect of cation (caCl₂, BaCl₂, and SrCl₂), the concentration of cation (0.01M, 0.125M, 0.25M, 0.375M, and 0.5M), the curing times (1, 6, 11, 16, and 21 hours), and the diameter of the bead (1.48, 2.16, 3.24, 4.46, and 5.44 mm), on neomycin production and bead stability were studied. The effect of maltose (4%, 3%, 2%, and 1% wt/vol) and sodium glutamate (0.6%, 0.3%, 0.15%, and 0.075%) wt/vol) concentration on neomycin production was also studied. Better neomycin production was achieved with optimized parameters, such as alginate at 2% wt/vol, 0.25M CaCl₂, 1-hour curing time, and 3.24 mm bead diameter. Effective neomycin production was achieved with 3% wt/vol maltose and 0.6% wt/vol sodium glutamate concentration. The repeated batch fermentations were conducted (every 96 hours) using the optimized alginate beads, employing the production medium with 3% wt/vol maltose and 0.6% wt/vol sodium glutamate along with minerals salts solution. The increase in antibiotic production was observed up to the 5th cycle, and later gradual decrease in antibiotic production was observed. Comparison of the total antibiotic production with free cells and immobilized cells was also done. An enhanced antibiotic productivity of 32% was achieved with immobilized cells over the conventional free-cell fermentation, while 108% more productivity was achieved over the washed free-cell fermentation. From these results it is concluded that the immobilized cells ofS marinensis NUV-5 in calcium alginate are more efficient for the production of neomycin with repeated batch fermentation.     

Comparison of neomycin production from Streptomyces fradiae cultivation using soybean oil as the sole carbon source in an air-lift bioreactor and a stirred-tank reactor

Streptomyces fradiae was cultivated in both an air-lift bioreactor and a jar-fermentor with various agitation rates from 200 to 800 rpm to investigate differences in neomycin production between the two reactors. Final neomycin concentrations in the jar-fermentor operated at 600 rpm and the air-lift bioreactor were 3.19 and 1.39 g/l, respectively. On the other hand, levels of soybean oil consumption in the two reactors were 25.9 and 9.4 g/l, respectively. Shear stress due to mechanical agitation caused changes in the morphology of mycelia and influenced neomycin production. The morphological changes of the mycelia in the jar-fermentor caused the viscosity of the culture broth to decrease by half, and soybean oil consumption and fatty acid uptake rate to increase 3- and 1.8-fold, respectively, in comparison with those of the air-lift bioreactor. The product yield coefficient determined from the level of soybean oil consumption in the air-lift bioreactor was similar to that of the jar-fermentor at 600 rpm, but the neomycin yield was less than one-half. In the case of the jar-fermentor, the yield increased with increasing agitation rate and was maximum at 600 rpm. To maximize neomycin production in S. fradiae cultures using soybean oil as sole carbon source, it was necessary to provide a degree of shear stress to the mycelia and to optimize liquid mixing. In an air-lift bioreactor, the soybean oil consumption may be suppressed due to a low degree of liquid mixing.     

Identification by gene deletion analysis of barS2, a gene involved in the biosynthesis of γ-butyrolactone autoregulator in Streptomyces virginiae

Virginiae butanolide (VB) is a member of the γ-butyrolactone autoregulators and triggers the production of streptogramin antibiotics virginiamycin M₁ and S in Streptomyces virginiae. A VB biosynthetic gene (barS2) was localized in a 10-kb regulatory island which controls the virginiamycin biosynthesis/resistance of S. virginiae, and analyzed by gene disruption/complementation. The barS2 gene is flanked by barS1, another VB biosynthetic gene catalyzing stereospecific reduction of an A-factor-type precursor into a VB-type compound, and barX encoding a pleiotropic regulator for virginiamycin biosynthesis. The deduced product of barS2 possessed moderate similarity to a putative dehydrogenase of Streptomyces venezuelae, encoded by jadW ₂ located in similar gene arrangement to that in the regulatory island of S. virginiae. A barS2-disruptant (strain IC152), created by means of homologous recombination, showed no differences in growth in liquid medium or morphology on solid medium compared to a wild-type strain, suggesting that BarS2 does not play any role in primary metabolism or morphological differentiation of S. virginiae. In contrast, no initiation of virginiamycin production or VB production was detected with the strain IC152 until 18 h of cultivation, at which time full production of virginiamycin occurs in the wild-type strain. The delayed virginiamycin production of the strain IC152 was fully restored to the level of the wild-type strain either by the exogenous addition of VB or by complementation of the intact barS2 gene, indicating that the lack of VB production at the initiation phase of virginiamycin production is the sole reason for the defect of virginiamycin production, and the barS2 gene is of primary importance for VB biosynthesis in S. virginiae. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Genetics and molecular mapping of a male fertility restoration locus (Rfg1) in rye (Secale cereale L.)

 A gene determining the restoration of cytoplasmic genic male sterility (CMS) caused by the Gülzow (G)-type cytoplasm was mapped by analyzing an F₂ and F₃ population comprising 140 and 133 individual plants, respectively. The target gene, designated Rfg1, was mapped on chromosome 4RL distally to three RFLP (Xpsr119, Xpsr167, Xpsr899) and four RAPD (XP01, XAP05, XR11, XS10) loci. Xpsr167 and Xpsr899 are known to be located on the segment of chromosome 4RL which was ancestrally translocated and is homoeologous to the distal end of other Triticeae 6S chromosomes. It is suggested that Rfg1 may be allelic to the gene determining the restoration of rye CMS caused by the Pampa (P) cytoplasm (chromosome 4RL) and to Rfc4 that on rye addition lines of chromosome 4RL restores male fertility of hexaploid wheat with T. timopheevi cytoplasm. Homoeoallelism to two loci for cytoplasmic-male-sterility restoration on chromosomes 6AS and 6BS in hexaploid wheat is also suggested. Received: 1 December 1997 / Accepted: 10 February 1998     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of sweet orange and regeneration of transgenic plants

Summary Transgenic sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) plants have been obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. An hypervirulent A. tumefaciens strain harboring a binary vector that contains the chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) and ß-glucuronidase (GUS) genes was cocultivated with stem segments from in vivo grown seedlings. Shoots regenerated under kanamycin selection were harvested from the stem segments within 12 weeks. Shoot basal portions were assayed for GUS activity and the remaining portions were shoot tip grafted in vitro for production of plants. Integration of the GUS gene was confirmed by Southern analysis. This transformation procedure showed the highest transgenic plant production efficiency reported for Citrus.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - CaMV cauliflowermosaic virus - GUS ß-glucuronidase - LB Luria Broth - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA naphthalenacetic acid - NOS nopaline synthase - NPT II neomycin phosphotransferase II - PEG polyethylene glycol - RM rooting medium - SRM shoot regeneration medium     

Engineered biosynthesis of 16-membered macrolides that require methoxymalonyl-ACP precursors in Streptomyces fradiae

Development of host microorganisms for heterologous expression of polyketide synthases (PKS) that possess the intrinsic capacity to overproduce polyketides with a broad spectrum of precursors supports the current demand for new tools to create novel chemical structures by combinatorial engineering of modular and other classes of PKS. Streptomyces fradiae is an ideal host for development of generic polyketide-overproducing strains because it contains three of the most common precursors—malonyl-CoA, methylmalonyl-CoA and ethylmalonyl-CoA—used by modular PKS, and is a host that is amenable to genetic manipulation. We have expanded the utility of an overproducing S. fradiae strain for engineered biosynthesis of polyketides by engineering a biosynthetic pathway for methoxymalonyl-ACP, a fourth precursor used by many 16-membered macrolide PKS. This was achieved by introducing a set of five genes, fkbG–K from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, putatively encoding the methoxymalonyl-ACP biosynthetic pathway, into the S. fradiae chromosome. Heterologous expression of the midecamycin PKS genes in this strain resulted in 1 g/l production of a midecamycin analog. These results confirm the ability to engineer unusual precursor pathways to support high levels of polyketide production, and validate the use of S. fradiae for overproduction of 16-membered macrolides derived from heterologous PKS that require a broad range of precursors.     

Characterization of a staurosporine- and temperature-sensitive mutant, stt1, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: STT1 is allelic to PKC1

Summary Staurosporine is an antibiotic that specifically inhibits protein kinase C. Fourteen staurosporine- and temperature-sensitive (stt) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated and characterized. These mutants were divided into ten complementation groups, and characterized for their cross-sensitivity to K-252a, neomycin, or CaCl₂, The STT1 gene was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the STT1 gene revealed that STT1 is the same gene as PKC1. The STT1 gene conferred resistance to staurosporine on wild-type cells, when present on a high copy number plasmid. STT1/stt1::HIS3 diploid cells were more sensitive to staurosporine than STT1/STT1 diploid cells. Analysis of temperature-sensitive stt1 mutants showed that the STT1 gene product functioned in S or G2/M phase. These results suggest that a protein kinase (the STT1 gene product) is one of the essential targets of staurosporine in yeast cells.     

Inactivation of the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor Sig6 stimulates avermectin production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces avermitilis</Emphasis>

The role of the extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factor Sig6 (SAV663) in avermectin production by Streptomyces avermitilis was investigated by gene-deletion, complementation and over-expression experiments. Inactivation of Sig6 had no major effect on growth, stress responses, or morphology. Avermectin yield was increased 2- to 2.7-fold (~680 μg/ml) relative to the wild-type strain by deletion of the sig6 gene, and was restored to the wild-type level by introduction of a single copy of sig6. Introduction of extra multi-copy or integrative sig6 vectors into the wild-type decreased avermectin yield by 56–63%. Taken together, these findings indicate that Sig6 plays a negative regulatory role in avermectin production in S. avermitilis. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that this role of Sig6 is mediated by the pathway-specific activator gene aveR.     

Cloning of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Acetylhomoserine Sulfhydrylase Gene from the Ruminal Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Selenomonas ruminantium</Emphasis> HD4

The O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase (OAHS) gene was cloned from a Selenomonas ruminantium HD4 Lambda ZAP II genomic library by degenerative probe hybridization and complementation. Sequence analysis revealed an 869-bp ORF with a G + C content of 53%. The ORF had significant homology with enzymes involved in homocysteine biosynthesis. A CuraBLASTN homology search showed that the ORF has 63% nucleotide identity with the OAHS of Bacillus stearothermophilus, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Acremonium chrysogenum, and has 58% identity with met25 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and metZ of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 45% similarity with Met25 and MetZ. Further analysis predicted that the gene product was a member of the pyridoxal phosphate enzyme family. Complementation experiments with Escherichia coli metA, metB, and metC mutant strains showed that the S. ruminantium OAHS gene can complement the metC mutation and allow for growth on minimal media that contained sodium thiosulfate as the sole source of sulfur. When the OAHS was disturbed by inserting a EZ::TN pMOD-2(Apramycin) transposon, the complementation was lost. Therefore, these results suggest that the gene functions as OAHS in S. ruminantium HD4.     

Effects of Minerals on Neomycin Production by Streptomyces fradiae

A study was made on the mineral requirements of Streptomyces fradiae strain 3535 for neomycin production. It was observed that optimal levels of the elements Ca, Fe, and Zn per milliliter of a synthetic medium for neomycin production were 10.8, 1.0, and 0.115 μg, respectively. K₂HPO₄ was required at a concentration of 0.1% for maximal yield of neomycin, whereas NaCl and the metals Mn and Cu were without any effect. High doses of Zn (0.23 μg/ml or above) caused destruction of neomycin after the fifth day of fermentation.     

Genetic transformation and regeneration of transgenic plants from precultured cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus tereticornis</Emphasis> Sm. using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>

An efficient transformation protocol was developed for Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. using cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. Precultured cotyledon and hypocotyl explants were cocultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 harboring the binary vector pBI121 containing the uidA and neomycin phosphotransferase II genes for 2 d and transferred to selective regeneration medium containing 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.1 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid, 40 mg/l kanamycin, and 300 mg/l cefotaxime. After two passages in the selective regeneration medium, the putatively transformed regenerants were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP and 40 mg/l kanamycin on paper bridges for further development and elongation. The elongated kanamycin-resistant shoots were subsequently rooted on the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid and 40 mg/l kanamycin. A strong β-glucuronidase activity was detected in the transformed plants by histochemical assay. Integration of T-DNA into the nuclear genome of transgenic plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and southern hybridization. This protocol allows effective transformation and direct regeneration of E. tereticornis Sm.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of commercial melon (Cucumis melo L., cv. Amarillo Oro)

Cotyledon explants of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L., cv. Amarillo Oro) seedlings were co-cultivated with disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 that contained the binary vector plasmid pBI121.1. The T-DNA region of this binary vector contains the Nopaline synthase/neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) chimeric gene for kanamycin resistance and the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S/-glucuronidase (GUS) chimeric gene. After infection, the cotyledon pieces were placed in induction medium containing 100 mg/l kanamycin. Putative transformed shoots were obtained, followed by the development of morphologically normal plantlets. The transgenic nature of regenerants was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot analysis, plant growth on medium selective for the transgene (NPTII) and expression of the co-transformed GUS gene. Factors affecting the transformation procedure are discussed.Abbreviations CaMV Cauliflower Mosaic Virus - Cf Cefotaxime - GUS -glucuronidase - Km Kanamycin - MS Murashige and Skoog - NOS nopaline synthase - NPTII neomycin phosphotransferase II - PCR polymerase chain reaction