Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and regeneration of transgenic plants using leaf midribs as explants in ramie [Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud]

In this study, leaf midribs, the elite explants, were used for the first time to develop an efficient regeneration and transformation protocol for ramie [Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.] via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Sensitivity of leaf midribs regeneration to kanamycin was evaluated, which showed that 40 mg l^?1 was the optimal concentration needed to create the necessary selection pressure. Factors affecting the ramie transformation efficiency were evaluated, including leaf age, Agrobacterium concentration, length of infection time for the Agrobacterium solution, acetosyringone concentration in the co-cultivation medium, and the co-cultivation period. The midrib explants from 40-day-old in vitro shoots, an Agrobacterium concentration at OD₆₀₀ of 0.6, 10-min immersion in the bacteria solution, an acetosyringone concentration of 50 mg l^?1 in the co-cultivation medium and a 3-day co-cultivation period produced the highest efficiencies of regeneration and transformation. In this study, the average transformation rate was 23.25 %. Polymerase chain reactions using GUS and NPTII gene-specific primers, Southern blot and histochemical GUS staining analyses further confirmed that the transgene was integrated into the ramie genome and expressed in the transgenic ramie. The establishment of this system of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and regeneration of transgenic plants will be used not only to introduce genes of interest into the ramie genome for the purpose of trait improvement, but also as a common means of testing gene function by enhancing or inhibiting the expression of target genes.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated in planta seed transformation strategy in sugarcane

Key message

An efficient, reproducible and genotype-independent in planta transformation has been standardized for sugarcane using seed as explant.

Abstract

Transgenic sugarcane production through Agrobacterium infection followed by in vitro regeneration is a time-consuming process and highly genotype dependent. To obtain more number of transformed sugarcane plants in a relatively short duration, sugarcane seeds were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA 105 harboring pCAMBIA 1304-bar and transformed plants were successfully established without undergoing in vitro regeneration. Various factors affecting sugarcane seed transformation were optimized, including pre-culture duration, acetosyringone concentration, surfactants, co-cultivation, sonication and vacuum infiltration duration. The transformed sugarcane plants were selected against BASTA^® and screened by GUS and GFP visual assay, PCR and Southern hybridization. Among the different combinations and concentrations tested, when 12-h pre-cultured seeds were sonicated for 10 min and 3 min vacuum infiltered in 100 µM acetosyringone and 0.1 % Silwett L-77 containing Agrobacterium suspension and co-cultivated for 72-h showed highest transformation efficiency. The amenability of the standardized protocol was tested on five genotypes. It was found that all the tested genotypes responded favorably, though CoC671 proved to be the best responding cultivar with 45.4 % transformation efficiency. The developed protocol is cost-effective, efficient and genotype independent without involvement of any tissue culture procedure and can generate a relatively large number of transgenic plants in approximately 2 months.     

Efficient genetic transformation of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens from leaf explants of in vitro multiple shoot culture

An efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Withania coagulans was achieved using leaf explants of in vitro multiple shoot culture. The Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harboring the binary vector pIG121Hm containing β-glucuronidase gene (gusA) under the control of CaMV35S promoter was used in the development of transformation protocol. The optimal conditions for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of W. coagulans were found to be the co-cultivation of leaf explants for 20 min to agrobacterial inoculum (O.D. 0.4) followed by 3 days of co-cultivation on medium supplemented with 100 μM acetosyringone. Shoot bud induction as well as differentiation occurred on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 10.0 μM 6-benzylaminopurine, 8.0 μM indole 3-acetic acid, and 50.0 mgl^?1 kanamycin after three consecutive cycles of selection. Elongated shoots were rooted using a two-step procedure involving root induction in a medium containing 2.5 μM indole 3-butyric acid for 1 week and then transferred to hormone free one-half MS basal for 2 weeks. We were successful in achieving 100 % frequency of transient GUS expression with 5 % stable transformation efficiency using optimized conditions. PCR analysis of T₀ transgenic plants showed the presence of gusA and nptII genes confirming the transgenic event. Histochemical GUS expression was observed in the putative transgenic W. coagulans plants. Thin layer chromatography showed the presence of similar type of withanolides in the transgenic and non-transgenic regenerated plants. A. tumefaciens mediated transformation system via leaf explants developed in this study will be useful for pathway manipulation using metabolic engineering for bioactive withanolides in W. coagulans, an important medicinal plant.     

Importance of co-cultivation medium pH for successful Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Lilium × formolongi

An efficient system for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Lilium × formolongi was established by preventing the drastic drop of pH in the co-cultivation medium with MES. Meristematic nodular calli were inoculated with an overnight culture of A. tumefaciens strain EHA101 containing the plasmid pIG121-Hm which harbored intron-containing β-glucuronidase (GUS), hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT), and neomycin phosphotransfease II (NPTII) genes. After three days of co-cultivation on 2 g/l gellan gum-solidified MS medium containing 100 μM acetosyringone, 30 g/l sucrose, 1 mg/l picloram and different concentrations of MES, they were cultured on the same medium containing 12.5 mg/l meropenem to eliminate Agrobacterium for 2 weeks and then transferred onto medium containing the same concentration of meropenem and 25 mg/l hygromycin for selecting putative transgenic calli. Transient GUS expression was only observed by adding MES to co-cultivation medium. Hygromycin-resistant transgenic calli were obtained only when MES was added to the co-cultivation medium especially at 10 mM. The hygromycin-resistant calli were successfully regenerated into plantlets after transferring onto picloram-free medium. Transformation of plants was confirmed by histochemical GUS assay, PCR analysis and Southern blot analysis.     

Recovery of Basta-resistant Sedum erythrostichum via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Sedums are used as groundcover, in rock gardens and flower borders, and for greening the top floor of buildings, cottages, and thatched roofs. In this study, Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Sedum erythrostichum was studied by introducing a herbicide-resistant gene (phosphinothricin-N-acetyl-transferase) and a reporter gene (#-glucuronidase, GUS). Following co-cultivation with Agrobacterium on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l !-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) for 3 days, leaf segments were transferred onto medium containing 300 mg/l cefotaxime. When adventitious shoots developed directly near the margins of explants after 3 weeks, they were transferred to selection medium with 25 mg/l kanamycin. Of a total of 640 infected leaf explants, 24 (3.75%) produced kanamycin-resistant adventitious shoots; of these, 2.5% were GUS-positive. Transgenic plantlets were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction, Southern, and Northern analyses. Ninety-four percent of the transgenic plantlets were successfully transferred to soil and produced flowers. All GUS-positive transgenic plants were strongly resistant to Basta (phosphinothricin at 200 mg/l) after spraying.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the medicinal plant Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (syn. P. emodi Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomas)

An efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method has been developed for the medicinal plant Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, an important source of the anticancer agent podophyllotoxin. Highly proliferating embryogenic cells were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring pCAMBIA 2301, which contains npt II and gusA as selection marker and reporter genes, respectively. The transformed somatic embryos and plantlets were selected on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing kanamycin and germination medium, respectively. GUS histochemical analysis, polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridisation confirmed that gusA was successfully integrated and expressed in the P. hexandrum genome. Compared with cefotaxime, 200 mg l^?1 timentin completely arrested Agrobacterium growth and favoured somatic embryo development from embryogenic cells. Among the different Agrobacterium strains, acetosyringone concentrations and co-cultivation durations tested, embryogenic callus infected with A. tumefaciens EHA 105 and co-cultivated for 3 days on MS basal medium containing 100 μM acetosyringone proved to be optimal and produced a transformation efficiency of 29.64 % with respect to germinated GUS-positive plantlets. The Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method developed in the present study facilitates the transference of desirable genes into P. hexandrum to improve the podophyllotoxin content and to enhance other useful traits.     

An efficient and universal Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol in rice

For development of transgenic varieties of interest in rice, we have developed a simple, efficient and universal Agrobacterium mediated transformation protocol. Mature seeds of two indica (IR64 and Jaya), one each from japonica (AC41039) and aromatic (Basmati370) varieties were used as explants in the present study. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 carrying Ti plasmid (pBI121) with the selectable marker npt ^II along with the reporter gene uidA encoding ??-glucuronidase (GUS) was successfully integrated with rice genome without use of acetosyringone. Sterile distilled water washing in place of cefotaxime in the elimination process has been used to control excess growth of Agrobacterium. All the material after transformation germinated in 2 to 3?days of co-cultivation on MS basal medium. Germinated seeds transferred to the selection medium i.e. plain MS medium with 50?mg/l of kanamycin, produced two to three primary tillers within 2?weeks. Mesocotyls from 2?week old in vitro grown plants were taken and cultured in the multiplication medium (MS supplemented with 0.5?mg/l BA and 50?mg/l Kanamycin) where within 6?C8?days they produced 3?C4 secondary tillers. All the five to six tiller shoots so produced in the process developed roots on plain MS and grew well when transferred to pots containing autoclaved soil and vermicompost in the proportion of 4:1. Transient expression of GUS was observed in all the tissues of recipient plants. Integration of the transgene was confirmed by employing southern blotting and real-time PCR technique. The transformation protocol developed can be efficiently used across the two major subspecies/ecotypes of the Asian rice cultivar Oryza sativa.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Transgenic ramie [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boehmeria nivea</Emphasis> (L.) Gaud.]: factors affecting the efficiency of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation and regeneration

In the present study, an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation system was developed for ramie [Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.] based on the examinations of several factors affecting plant transformation efficiency. The effects of Agrobacterium cell density, acetosyringone, co-cultivation temperature, co-cultivation duration, co-cultivation photoperiod and pH on stable transformation were evaluated. Agrobacterium at a concentration of OD = 0.5–0.8 improved the efficiency of transformation. Concentration of acetosyringone at 50 mg/L during co-cultivation significantly increased transformation efficiency. Co-cultivation at 20°C, in comparison to 15, 25 and 28°C, consistently resulted in higher transformation frequencies. A relatively short co-cultivation duration (3 days) was optimal for ramie transformation. Co-cultivation medium at pH 5.9 and co-cultivation in darkness both improved the transformation efficiencies of ramie. An overall scheme for producing transgenic ramie is presented, through which an average transformation rate from 10.5 to 24.7% in five ramie varieties was obtained. Stable expression and integration of the transgenes were confirmed by histochemical GUS assay, kanamycin painting assay, PCR and Southern blotting. This optimized transformation system should be employed for efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of ramie. An erratum to this article can be found at     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated in planta genetic transformation of sugarcane setts

Key message

An efficient, reproducible, and genotype-independent in planta transformation has been developed for sugarcane using setts as explant.

Abstract

Traditional Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and in vitro regeneration of sugarcane is a complex and time-consuming process. Development of an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol, which can produce a large number of transgenic plants in short duration is advantageous. Hence, in the present investigation, we developed a tissue culture-independent in planta genetic transformation system for sugarcane using setts collected from 6-month-old sugarcane plants. The sugarcane setts (nodal cuttings) were infected with three Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains harbouring pCAMBIA 1301–bar plasmid, and the transformants were selected against BASTA^®. Several parameters influencing the in planta transformation such as A. tumefaciens strains, acetosyringone, sonication and exposure to vacuum pressure, have been evaluated. The putatively transformed sugarcane plants were screened by GUS histochemical assay. Sugarcane setts were pricked and sonicated for 6 min and vacuum infiltered for 2 min at 500 mmHg in A. tumefaciens C58C1 suspension containing 100 µM acetosyringone, 0.1 % Silwett L-77 showed the highest transformation efficiency of 29.6 % (with var. Co 62175). The three-stage selection process completely eliminated the chimeric transgenic sugarcane plants. Among the five sugarcane varieties evaluated using the standardized protocol, var. Co 6907 showed the maximum transformation efficiency (32.6 %). The in planta transformation protocol described here is applicable to transfer the economically important genes into different varieties of sugarcane in relatively short time.

     

A method to overcome the waxy surface, cell wall thickening and polyphenol induced necrosis at wound sites - the major deterrents to Agrobacterium mediated transformation of bamboo, a woody monocot

The method is the first successful report of Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of the commercially important bamboo, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii. It shows how the resistance provided by the somatic embryos of this woody monocot can be overcome using a simple and effective method. The method thus standardized can be also used for the genetic transformation of other important bamboos. Identification of the factors responsible for the resistance of the somatic embryos to Agrobacterium infection was an absolute requirement for devising a successful method. Necrosis due to polyphenol oxidation, lack of differentiation due to cell wall thickening at wound sites, waxy surfaces of somatic embryos with anti-microbial properties were found to prevent Agrobacterium attachment and infection. Therefore, the somatic embryos were transformed with fresh overnight grown Agrobacterium culture containing 500 mg/l polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and 0.01 % Tween-20 as surfactant followed by co-cultivation on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing the vir gene inducer acetosyringone (100 μM) and 1 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine BAP for 2 days. Persistent GUS expression and strong positive signals in PCR, slot blot and Southern hybridization confirmed successful genetic transformation.     

Factors affecting genetic transformation and shoot organogenesis of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst

Efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated T-DNA delivery and subsequent shoot organogenesis has been achieved from Bacopa monnieri. Various factors influenced T-DNA delivery as evident from transient GUS assay. The transient GUS expression was significantly higher (97.7 %) in explants that were pre-cultured before bacterial infection on medium supplemented with 100 μM acetosyringone. Incorporation of acetosyringone into the co-cultivation medium also enhanced transient GUS activity. Explant injury with carborundum paper, co-cultivation period of 2 days and a bacterial density of 0.4 OD₆₀₀ showed higher transient GUS expression. Following co-cultivation, shoot organogenesis was achieved from leaf segments on basal Murashige and Skoog medium containing 58 mM sucrose. Supplementation of antibiotics (cefotaxime or carbenicillin) at > 250 μg/ml into the medium significantly promoted shoot organogenesis from leaf explants (71.5 % in control and > 83.0 % on medium containing 500 μg/ml of carbenicillin or cefotaxime). Stable transformation of regenerated shoots was confirmed on the basis of GUS activity and PCR amplification of DNA fragments specific to reporter gene (uidA) and selection marker gene (nptII). The expression level of nptII gene in independent transgenic lines was studied using quantitative real time-PCR. Stable transformed shoots after rooting were successfully established in the pots.     

Factors affecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hybanthus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">enneaspermus</Emphasis> (L.) F. Muell.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system was established for Hybanthus enneaspermus using leaf explants with the strain LBA4404 harbouring pCAMBIA 2301 carrying the nptII and gusA genes. Sensitivity of leaf explants to kanamycin was standardized (100 mg/l) for screening the transgenic plants. Transformation parameters (OD, virulence inducer, infection time, co-cultivation period, bactericidal antibiotics, etc.) influencing the gene transfer and integration were assessed in the present investigation. Fourteen-day pre-cultured explants were subjected with Agrobacterium strain LBA4404. Optimized parameters such as culture density of 0.5 OD₆₀₀, infection time of 6 min, AS concentration of 150 µM with 3 days co-cultivation revealed maximum transformation efficiency based on GUS expression assay. The presence of gusA in transgenics was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting analysis. The present transformation experiment yielded 20 shoots/explant with higher transformation efficiency (28 %). The protocol could be used to introduce genes for trait improvement as well as for altering metabolic pathway for secondary metabolites production.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated production of transgenic plants of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Muscari armeniacum</Emphasis> Leichtl. ex Bak.

A system for the production of transgenic plants has been developed for the Liliaceous ornamental plant Muscari armeniacum Leichtl. ex Bak via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic cultures. Leaf-derived embryogenic cultures were co-cultivated with each of three A. tumefaciens strains, all of which harbored the binary vector carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII), hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) and intron-containing #-glucuronidase (gus-intron) genes in the T-DNA region. Following co-cultivation, the embryogenic cultures were cultured on a medium containing 500 mg l^-1 cefotaxime for 1 week followed by a medium containing 75 mg l^-1 hygromycin in addition to cefotaxime. After 4-5 weeks, several hygromycin-resistant (Hyg^r) cell clusters were produced from the co-cultivated embryogenic cultures. The highest efficiency of production of Hyg^r cell clusters was obtained when embryogenic cultures were inoculated with A. tumefaciens EHA101/pIG121Hm in the presence of 100 µM acetosyringone (AS) and 0.1% (v/v) of a surfactant (Tween20) followed by co-cultivation in the presence of 100 µM AS. Hyg^r embryogenic cultures developed into complete plants via somatic embryogenesis, and most of them were verified to be transgenic by GUS histochemical assay and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Southern blot analysis revealed the integration of one to five copies of the transgene into the genome of transgenic plants, but most of them had one or two copies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Codonopsis lanceolata</Emphasis> using the <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ-TMT</Emphasis> gene

Efficient transformation of leaf disc-derived callus of Codonopsis lanceolata was obtained using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring a binary vector, pYBI121, that carries the neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) gene as a selectable marker. The green shoots recovered from agroinfected explants on selection medium (containing 0.1 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 100 mg/l kanamycin, and 250 mg/l cefotaxime) were rooted on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l IBA and 10 mg/l kanamycin. To optimize the transformation conditions, several factors were assessed, including the co-cultivation period, the duration of pre- and post-culture in darkness and light, the kanamycin concentration, and the Agrobacterium densities. We produced transgenic Codonopsis lanceolata overexpressing γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) by this protocol. Moreover, the α-tocopherol content of the plants was enhanced by the overexpression of this gene. Bimal Kumar Ghimire and Eun Soo Seong contributed equally to this work.     

Vacuum infiltration enhances the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in Indian soybean cultivars

For the first time we have developed a reliable and efficient vacuum infiltration-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation (VIAAT) protocol for Indian soybean cultivars and recovered fertile transgenic soybean plants through somatic embryogenesis. Immature cotyledons were used as an explant and three Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains (EHA 101, EHA 105, and KYRT 1) harbouring the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 were experimented in the co-cultivation. The immature cotyledons were pre-cultured in liquid somatic embryo induction medium prior to vacuum infiltration with the Agrobacterium suspension and co-cultivated for 3 days on co-cultivation medium containing 50 mg l^?1 citric acid, 100 µM acetosyringone, and 100 mg l^?1 l-cysteine. The transformed somatic embryos were selected in liquid somatic embryo induction medium containing 10 mg l^?1 hygromycin and the embryos were germinated in basal medium containing 20 mg l^?1 hygromycin. The presence and integration of the hpt II and gus genes into the soybean genome were confirmed by GUS histochemical assay, polymerase chain reaction, and Southern hybridization. Among the different combinations tested, high transformation efficiency (9.45 %) was achieved when immature cotyledons of cv. Pusa 16 were pre-cultured for 18 h and vacuum infiltrated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens KYRT 1 for 2 min at 750 mm of Hg. Among six Indian soybean cultivars tested, Pusa 16 showed highest transformation efficiency of 9.45 %. The transformation efficiency of this method (VIAAT) was higher than previously reported sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. These results suggest that an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for stable integration of foreign genes into soybean has been developed.     

Production of transgenic local rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.) for improved drought tolerance using Agrobacterium mediated transformation

Rice being the staple food of middle and south India, there is an extensive research undertaken in protecting the species and improving the quality and yield. Several recombinations have been made to the rice genome to impart various qualities which lack in the pure breed. Oryza faces various natural stress, like temperature variance, high salinity, etc., drought is one of the major parameters affecting the growth and yield of the plant. Transgenic rice cultivars can be generated for drought tolerance using the Agrobacterium mediated transformations. The current work aims to impart the gene for drought tolerance in Oryza sativa L. using Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The gene targeted in this context is dehydration response element binding factors (DREB). DREB plays a major role in response to drought mediated stress. Sambha mahsuri (Indica type) and Cotton dora sannalu (Indica type) the two local cultivars have been transformed for the gene AtDREB1A under 35s CaMV promoters (pBIH binary vector) for which the vector used was Agrobacterium. The target plant tissue being used was calli. Optimization of the parameters was performed for a lethal dose of hygromycin, cefotaxime level, and acetosyringone level. PCR amplification was used for the confirmation of the transgenic (T₀) species in which 23% and 18% for Sambha mahsuri and Cotton dora sannalu, respectively. Southern blotting was performed for the genomic DNA. Normal growth was shown by the T₁ transgenic plants whose expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. The T₁ transgenic plants showed good tolerance to drought mediated stress for a total period of one and a half week under greenhouse condition. The study can be concluded by producing a potentially successful drought resistance T₁ species produced using Agrobacterium mediated transformation.     

In vitro regeneration and optimization of factors affecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> mediated transformation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia Pallens</Emphasis>, an important medicinal plant

Artemisia pallens is an important medicinal plant. In-vitro regeneration and multiplication of A. pallens have been established using attached cotyledons. Different growth regulators were considered for regeneration of multiple shoots. An average of 36 shoots per explants were obtained by culturing attached cotyledons on Murashige and Skoog’s medium containing 2 mg/L BAP and 0.1 mg/L NAA, after 45 days. The shoots were rooted best on half Murashige and Skoog’s medium with respect to media containing 1 mg/L IBA or 1 mg/L NAA. Different parameters such as type of bacterial strains, OD₆₀₀ of bacterial culture, co-cultivation duration, concentration of acetosyringone and explants type were optimized for transient expression of the reporter gene. Agrobacterium tumefaciens harbouring pCambia1301 plasmid carrying β-glucuronidase as a reporter gene and hygromycin phosphotransferase as plant selectable marker genes were used for genetic transformation of A. pallens. Hygromycin lethality test showed concentration of 15 mg/L were sufficient to inhibit the growth of attached cotyledons and multiple shoot buds of nontransgenics in selection media. Up to 83 % transient transformation was found when attached cotyledons were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strain AGL1 for 2 days at 22 °C on shoot induction medium. The bacterial growth was eliminated by addition of cefotaxime (200 mg/L) in selection media. T₀ transgenic plants were confirmed by GUS histochemical assay and further by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using uidA and hpt gene specific primers. The study is useful in establishing technological improvement in A. pallens by genetic engineering.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with an insecticidal protein gene: optimisation of different factors

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in chickpea was developed using strain LBA4404 carrying nptII, uidA and cryIAc genes and transformants selected on Murashige and Skoog’s basal medium supplemented with benzyladenine, kinetin and kanamycin. Integration of transgenes was demonstrated using polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot hybridization of T₀ plants. The expression of CryIAc delta endotoxin and GUS enzyme was shown by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and histochemical assay respectively. The transgenic plants (T₀) showed more tolerance to infection by Helicoverpa armigera compared to control plants. Various factors such as explant source, cultivar type, different preculture treatment period of explants, co-cultivation period, acetosyringone supplementation, Agrobacterium harboring different plasmids, vacuum infiltration and sonication treatment were tested to study the influence on transformation frequency. The results indicated that use of epicotyl as explant, cultivar ICCC37, Agrobacterium harboring plasmid pHS102 as vector, preculture of explant for 48 h, co-cultivation period of 2 days at 25°C and vacuum infiltration for 15 min produced the best transformation results. Sonication treatment of explants with Agrobacteria for 80 s was found to increase the frequency of transformation.