Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated expression ofgusA in maize tissues

To develop a system forAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize (Zea mays L.), we have investigated histochemically the transient expression of -glucuronidase (GUS) activity in maize seedling tissue segments using binary vectors that allow minimal (pKIWI105 and pCNL1) or undetectable (p35S-GUS-INT and pCNL56) levels of GUS activity inA. tumefaciens. Tissue segments from three- to five-day-old sterile seedlings of maize genotype A188 were inoculated withA. tumefaciens. Four days after inoculation, transient expression of GUS activity was found in mesocotyl segments originating from the intercalary meristem region. This GUS activity was specific to the vascular cylinder and was not found in the internal cortical or epidermal layers, nor was it found in mature mesocotyl tissue (segments 5 mm below the coleoptilar node). Transient GUS activity was also detected in leaf and coleoptile tissues of shoot segments, but not in the shoot apexper se or in leaves younger than the first leaf. Maize tissues inoculated withA. tumefaciens strains that harbourgusA-containing binary vectors but no Ti-plasmid did not show GUS activity, supporting evidence from previous work thatvir gene activity was essential for the observed GUS activity.A. tumefaciens strains containing different types of Ti-plasmids were also tested. A strain harbouring an agropine-type Ti-plasmid was the most effective for expressing GUS activity in mesocotyl segments, whereas a strain harboring a nopaline-type Ti-plasmid was most effective for expression of GUS activity in the apical meristem-containing segment. These results indicate that different interactions occurred between the differentA. tumefaciens strains and the susceptible plant tissues. Maize genotype specificity for GUS activity in mesocotyl tissues was observed; variations in the cocultivation medium had a profound effect on the frequency of expression of GUS activity.     

Evaluation of transformation in peach Prunus persica explants using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter genes

To determine the optimum conditions for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer, peach explants including cotyledons, embryonic axes and hypocotyl slices from non-germinated seeds and epicotyl internode slices from germinating seeds were exposed to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation treatments. The GUS (uidA) marker gene was tested using two different A. tumefaciens strains, three plasmids and four promoters [CaMV35s, (Aocs)3AmasPmas (“super-promoter”), mas-CaMV35s, and CAB]. GFP was tested with six A.␣tumefaciens strains, one plasmid (pLC101) and the doubleCaMV35s (dCaMV35s) promoter. The CaMV35s promoter produced more GUS expression than the CAB promoter. A. tumefaciens strains EHA105 and LBA4404 harboring the same plasmid (pBIN19) differed in their effects on GUS expression suggesting an interaction between A. tumefaciens strain and plasmid. A combination of A. tumefaciens EHA105, plasmid pBIN19 and the CaMV35s promoter produced the highest rates of transformation in peach epicotyl internodes (56.8%), cotyledons (52.7%), leaves (20%), and embryonic axes (46.7%) as evaluated by the percentage of explants expressing GUS 14 days after co-cultivation. GFP expression under the control of the dCaMV35s promoter was highest for internode explants but only reached levels of 18–19%. When GFP-containing plasmid pCL101 was combined with each of five A. tumefaciens strains the highest levels of transformation were 20–21% (internode and cotyledons, respectively). When nine peach genotypes were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 and GFP-containing plasmid pCL101 the highest levels of transformation were 26–28% (cotyledons and internodes, respectively). While GFP represents a potentially useful transformation marker that allows the non-destructive evaluation of transformation, rates of GFP transformation under the conditions of this study were low. It will be necessary to optimize expression of this marker gene in peach.     

Factors affecting Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation in several black poplar clones

Transient expression of the uidA reporter gene was used in preliminary experiments with two oncogenic and two disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains in order to test the efficiency of T-DNA transfer to N084 x Populus nigra and N107 x P. nigra clones. The oncogenic strain A281 pKIWI105 produced the highest average number of GUS spots per leaf disc. In order to optimize the production of transgenic plantlets from different P. nigra clones (San Giorgio, Jean Pourtet, N084 x P. nigra and N107 x P. nigra, respectively), two A. tumefaciens strains (GV2260 p35S GUS, A281pKIWI105) and bacterial concentrations (7×10⁸; 1.2×0⁹ bacteria ml^-1) were used. Following co-cultivation with A281 pKIWI105, the frequency of leaf discs producing kanamycin-resistant calli was not significantly different between the clones and bacteria concentrations used. Transformed shoots were regenerated from all clones, except for Jean Pourtet. Co-cultivation of leaf discs with GV2260 p35S GUS produced very few calli which died when transferred to selective regeneration medium. In addition, the effects of acetosyringone and leaf wounding were evaluated for the San Giorgio and Jean Pourtet clones, using the same strains. Factors which significantly affected the transformation efficiency of leaf explants were the P. nigra clone, the A. tumefaciens strain, and the presence of acetosyringone. Genetic transformation of calli and regenerated plantlets was confirmed by their ability to grow and root on Woody Plant Medium containing kanamycin, by histochemical -glucuronidase assays, and Southern blot hybridization analyses.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - GUS -glucuronidase - IBA indolebutyric acid - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - nptII neomycin phosphotransferase II gene - uidA -glucuronidase gene - WPM Woody Plant Medium     

Transgenic plant production from leaf discs of Moricandia arvensis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Summary A high frequency shoot regeneration (80%) was developed from callus of leaf discs and stem internodes of Moricandia arvensis. Leaf discs were shown to be a preferable starting material for transformation experiments. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101/pMP90 used in this study contained a binary vector with genes for kanamycin resistance, hygromycin resistance and -glucuronidase (GUS). Maximum transformation efficiency (10.3%) was achieved by using kanamycin at the rate of 200 mg/l as a selection agent. Presence of tobacco suspension culture during co-cultivation and a pre-selection period of seven days after co-cultivation was essential for successful transformation. Transgenic plants grew to maturity and exhibited flowering in a glasshouse. GUS activity was evident in all parts of leaf and the presence of GUS gene in plant gemone was confirmed by PCR analysis.Abbreviations GUS -glucuronidase     

Genetic transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agave salmiana</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis> and particle bombardment

Agave salmiana was transformed using two different protocols: co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens and particle bombardment. The uidA (β-glucuronidase) gene was used as a reporter gene for both methods whereas the nptII and bar genes were used as selectable markers for A. tumefaciens and biolistic transformation respectively. Previous reports for in vitro regeneration of A. salmiana have not been published; therefore the conditions for both shoot regeneration and rooting were optimized using leaves and embryogenic calli of Agave salmiana. The transgenes were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in 11 month old plants. The transgenic nature of the plants was also confirmed using GUS histochemical assays. Transformation via co-cultivation of explants with Agrobacterium harbouring the pBI121 binary vector was the most effective method of transformation, producing 32 transgenic plants and giving a transformation efficiency of 2.7%. On the other hand, the biolistic method produced transgenic calli that tested positive with the GUS assay after 14 months on selective medium while still undergoing regeneration.     

Transformation of maize by 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzo- xazin-3(4H)-one resistant Agrobacterium strains

One of the important factors responsible for recalcitrance of maize tissue towards Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the presence of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA), an inhibitory metabolite found in maize cells. DIMBOA-resistant strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were used to transfer genes coding for GUS (-glucuronidase) and NPTII (neomycine phosphotransferase II) in maize shoot apical meristems derived from 20 day-old seedlings and immature embryos. GUS expression was higher (21–34%) in the apical meristem and was dependent on the type of infecting strain and explant-age. The PCR analysis of selected tissues confirmed the presence of GUS gene in the transformed cells.     

Multiple copies of virG enhance the transient transformation of celery,carrot and rice tissues by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

In an effort to improve the T-DNA-mediated transformation frequency of economically important crops, we investigated the possible enhancement effect of multiple copies of virG genes contained in Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains upon the transient transformation of celery, carrot and rice tissues. Four days after A. tumefaciens infection, we performed histochemical -glucuronidase (GUS) assays to determine the frequency of transient transformation of calli from celery and carrot, and explants from rice and celery. Additional copies of octopine- and agropine-type virG genes in A. tumefaciens strains containing an agropine-type Ti-plasmid enhanced the frequency of transient transformation of celery and rice. This enhancement ranged from 25% to five-fold, depending upon the source of the virG gene and the plant tissues inoculated. For both rice and celery, we observed a greater enhancement of transformation using A. tumefaciens strains containing additional copies of an octopine-type virG gene than with strains harboring additional copies of an agropine-type virG gene. Multiple copies of virG genes contained in A. tumefaciens strains harboring a nopaline-type Ti-plasmid had a smaller enhancing effect upon the transformation of celery tissues, and no enhancing effect upon the transformation of rice. In contrast, we obtained a three-fold increase in the transient transformation frequency of carrot calli using an A. tumefaciens strain harboring a nopaline-type Ti-plasmid and additional copies of an octopine-type virG gene. Our results show that multiple copies of virG in A. tumefaciens can greatly enhance the transient transformation frequency of celery, carrot and rice tissues, and that this enhancement is influenced by both the type of Ti-plasmid harbored by A. tumefaciens and by the infected plant species.Current address: Department of Agronomy, Purdue University     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of European chestnut embryogenic cultures

An innovative and efficient genetic transformation protocol for European chestnut is described in which embryogenic cultures are used as the target material. When somatic embryos at the globular or early-torpedo stages were cocultured for 4 days with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbouring the pUbiGUSINT plasmid containing marker genes, a transformation efficiency of 25% was recorded. Murashige and Skoog culture medium containing 150 mg/l of kanamycin was used as the selection medium. The addition of acetosyringone was detrimental to the transformation efficiency. Transformation was confirmed by a histochemical -glucuronidase (GUS ) assay, PCR and Southern blot analyses for the uidA (GUS) and nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) genes. At present, 93 GUS-positive chestnut embryogenic lines are being maintained in culture. Low germination rates (6.3%) were recorded for the transformed somatic embryos. The presence of the transferred genes in leaves and shoots derived from the germinated embryos was also verified by the GUS assay and PCR analysis.     

Efficient Method of Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation for Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack)

Transgenic plants of triticale cv. Wanad were obtained after transformation using three combinations of strain/vectors. Two of them were hypervirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains (AGL1 and EHA101) with vectors containing bar under maize ubiquitin 1 promoter (pDM805), and both hpt under p35S and nptII under pnos (pGAH). The third one was a regular LBA4404 strain containing super-binary plasmid pTOK233 with selection genes the same as in pGAH. The efficiency of transformation was from 0 to 16% and it was dependent on the selection factor, auxin pretreatment, and the strain/vector combination. The highest number of transgenic plants was obtained after transformation with LBA4404(pTOK233) and kanamycin selection. Pretreatment of explants with picloram led to the highest number of plants obtained after transformation with both Agrobacterium/vector systems LBA4404(pTOK233) and EHA101(pGAH) and selected with kanamycin. Transgenic character of selected plants was examined by PCR using specific primers for bar, gus, nptII, and hpt and confirmed by Southern blot hybridization analysis. There was no GUS expression in T₀ transgenic plants transformed with gus under p35S. However the GUS expression was detectable in the progeny of some lines. Only 30% of 46 transgenic lines showed Mendelian segregation of GUS expressing to GUS not expressing plants. In the remaining 70% the segregation was non-Mendelian and the rate was much lower than 3:1. Factors that might effect expression of transgenes in allohexaploid monocot species are discussed.     

Factors affectingAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediatedgusA expression and opine synthesis inGladiolus

Five tumorigenic strains ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens were used to inoculate corms, cormels, plants grown in vitro, and seed-derived seedlings of several cultivars ofGladiolus. Tumors formed on 12% of the plant tissues inoculated, and 1% of these tumors synthesized either octopine or nopaline.A. tumefaciens-mediated-glu-curonidase (GUS) expression showed 0.5% and 3.5% GUS expression for plants grown in vitro and regenerable callus, respectively. GUS expression ranged from 40% to 61% whenA. tumefaciens was incubated with leaves from seedlings grown in the dark, whereas leaves from seedlings grown under a 16-h light photoperiod showed no GUS, indicating the significant effect of etiolation on transient GUS expression mediated byA. tumefaciens.     

Transgenic plant production mediated by Agrobacterium in Indica rice

Summary A reproducible system has been developed for the production of transgenic plants in indica rice using Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Three-week-old scutella calli served as an excellent starting material. These were infected with an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 carrying a plasmid pIG121Hm containing genes for -glucuronidase (GUS) and hygromycin resistnace (HygR). Hygromycin (50 mg/l) was used as a selectable agent. Inclusion of acetosyringone (50M) in the Agrobacterium suspension and co-culture media proved to be indispensable for successful transformation. Transformation efficiency of Basmati 370 was 22% which was as high as reported in japonica rice and dicots. A large number of morphologically normal, fertile transgenic plants were obtained. Integration of foreign genes into the genome of transgenic plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. GUS and HygR genes were inherited and expressed in R1 progeny. Mendelian segregation was observed in some R1 progeny.Abbreviations GUS ß-glucuronidase - HygR hygromycin-resistance - AS acetosyringone     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of pepino and regeneration of transgenic plants

Regeneration of pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) shoots was achieved both by organogenesis and by embryogenesis. Shoots derived via organogenesis were easily rooted and most regenerated plants appeared phenotypically normal. Transgenic plants were obtained using the binary vector pKIWI110 in the avirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404. Optimization of transformation protocols was rapidly achieved by monitoring early expression of the GUS (-D-glucuronidase) reporter gene carried on pKIWI110. Transgenic plants expressed GUS and selectable marker genes for kanamycin resistance and chlorsulfuron resistance. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and Southern analysis provided molecular evidence for transformation.     

Factors influencing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> mediated genetic transformation of kenaf

As a first step in the development of a successful Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation method for kenaf, factors influencing the successful T-DNA integration and expression (as measured by the GUS expression) were investigated. Transformation was carried out using two kenaf cultivars and Agrobacterium strain EHA 105 carrying different vectors, plasmid pIG 121-Hm or pEC:gus. Pre-culturing the explants for 2days in benzyl adenine containing medium, and wounding the explant before inoculation were found to enhance the transient GUS expression. Increasing the duration of pre-culture and co-culture period enhanced the transient GUS expression up to a threshold level. Increased transient GUS expression did not correlate with an increase in stable expression. Gene integration was confirmed by PCR analysis.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and plant regeneration of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.)

Genetic transformation of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) and regeneration of transgenic plants were obtained by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains as vectors. Buckwheat cotyledons were excised from imbibed seeds, co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens and subjected to previously reported protocols for callus and shoot regeneration. The transformation with oncogenic strains was confirmed by opine and DNA analyses of tumour tissue extracts. Plants were regenerated on cotyledon fragments incubated with strain A281, harboring pGA472, which carries the neomycin phosphotransferase II gene for kanamycin resistance. The transformation of resistant shoot clones was confirmed by NPTII enzyme assay and DNA hybridization. A large number of transformed shoots were rooted and fertile plantlets were raised in the greenhouse. Transgenic plants comprised pin and thrum clones, which were allowed to cross-pollinate. In about 180 R₂ seeds tested for kanamycin resistance, the ratio of resistant to sensitive seedlings was roughly 3:1.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid - 2iP 6-(, ,-dimethylallyl-amino)-purine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - Km kanamycin - NPTII neomycin phosphotransferase II     

Transformation of vitis tissue by different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the T-6b gene

Summary Stem pieces and leaf disks of Vitis spp. were cocultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains carrying the UidA (ß-glucuronidase = GUS) gene. The transformation efficiency was highly increased by using a modified T-6b gene (a gene from pTiTm4) which interferes with normal growth and allows regeneration of normal Nicotiana rustica plants (Tinland 1990). The strains first tested on stem segments were subsequently tested in a leaf explant system. On leaves the transformation efficiency of the strains was much lower than with stems. Both the T-6b gene and the hsp 70-T-6b gene (a modified T-6b gene under the control of a heat shock promoter) allowed the initiation of GUS-positive buds.Abbreviations GUS ß-glucuronidase - BAP benzylaminopurine - X-gluc 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl glucuronide     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated genetic transformation of a recalcitrant grain legume,lentil (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lens culinaris</Emphasis> Medik)

A simple and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for a recalcitrant legume plant, lentil (Lens culinaris M.) is reported. Application of wounding treatments and efficiencies of three Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, EHA105, C58C1, and KYRT1 were compared for T-DNA delivery into lentil cotyledonary node tissues. KYRT1 was found to be on average 2.8-fold more efficient than both EHA105 and C58C1 for producing transient β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene (gus) expression on cotyledonary petioles. Wounding of the explants, use of an optimized transformation protocol with the application of acetosyringone and vacuum infiltration treatments in addition to the application of a gradually intensifying selection regime played significant roles in enhancing transformation frequency. Lentil explants were transformed by inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain, KYRT1 harboring a binary vector pTJK136 that carried neomycin phosphotransferase gene (npt-II) and an intron containing gusA gene on its T-DNA region. GUS-positive shoots were micrografted on lentil rootstocks. Transgenic lentil plants were produced with an overall transformation frequency of 2.3%. The presence of the transgene in the lentil genome was confirmed by GUS assay, PCR, RT-PCR and Southern hybridization. The transgenic shoots grafted on rootstocks were successfully transferred to soil and grown to maturity in the greenhouse. GUS activity was detected in vegetative and reproductive organs of T₀, T₁, T₂ and T₃ plants. PCR assays of T₁, T₂ and T₃ progenies confirmed the stable transmission of the transgene to the next generations.     

Comparison of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of four barley cultivars using the GFP and GUS reporter genes

Experiments were conducted to produce transgenic barley plants following infection of immature embryos with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transformed callus was obtained using hygromycin resistance as a selectable marker and either green fluorescent protein (GFP) or -glucuronidase (GUS) as a reporter. Significantly reduced plant transformation frequencies were obtained with the GFP gene compared to GUS. However, GFP proved to be an excellent reporter of early transformation events and was used to compare four barley cultivars for efficiency in two phases of transformation: the generation of stably transformed barley callus and the regeneration of plantlets from transformed callus. Transformed callus was generated at a high frequency (47–76%) in all four cultivars. Regeneration of transformed plantlets was also achieved for all four cultivars although the frequency was much higher for Golden Promise than for the other three genotypes, reiterating that genotype is an important determinant in the regenerative ability of barley. This study has demonstrated for the first time that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation can be used to transform the Australian cultivars Sloop and Chebec.Communicated by W. Harwood     

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     

Genetic transformation of a hepatoprotective plant, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus amarus</Emphasis>

Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn. is a source of various pharmacologically active compounds such as phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, gallic acid, catechin, and nirurin, a flavone glycoside. A genetic transformation method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens was developed for this plant species for the first time. Shoot tips of full grown plants were used as explants for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plants were obtained by co-cultivation of shoot tips explants and A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 containing the pCAMBIA 2301 plasmid harboring neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) and β-glucuronidase encoding (GUS) genes in the T-DNA region in the presence of 200 μM acetosyringone. Integration of the NPT II gene into the genome of transgenic plants was verified by PCR and Southern blot analyses. Expression of the NPT II gene was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. An average of 25 explants was used, out of which an average of 19 explants produced kanamycin-resistant shoots, which rooted to produce 13 complete transgenic plants.