Selection of transgenic meristematic cells utilizing a herbicidal molecule results in the recovery of fertile transgenic soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] plants at a high frequency

Imazapyr is a herbicidal molecule that concentrates in the apical meristematic region of the plant. Its mechanism of action is the inhibition of the enzymatic activity of acetohydroxyacid synthase, which catalyses the initial step in the biosynthesis of isoleucine, leucine and valine. The selectable marker gene, ahas, was previously isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana and contains a mutation at position 653 bp. Combining the use of imazapyr, the ahas gene and a multiple shooting induction protocol has allowed us to develop a novel system to select transgenic meristematic cells after the physical introduction of foreign genes. In this study, we describe a protocol to obtain a high frequency of fertile transgenic soybean plants that is variety-independent. Received: 14 June 1999 / Accepted: 8 October 1999