Genetic changes induced in higher plant cells by a laser microbeam

Introducing foreign genes into higher plants has proved to be complicated, with the exception of transformation of protoplasts of some plants (Negrutiu et al. 1987). In particular, culture of protoplasts and regeneration to plants are difficult in many monocotyledonous crops. Therefore, it would be desirable to avoid extensive tissue culture by introducing cloned genes directly into cells. A laser microbeam can perforate plant cell walls, thus facilitating uptake of genes into cells.