Gametic embryos of maize as a target for biolistic transformation: comparison to immature zygotic embryos

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the suitability of maize gametic embryos of three ETH genotypes as a target for biolistic transformation. We studied parameters considered essential for a successful transformation, such as the frequency of secondary embryo formation, their regeneration ability and the transient transgene expression. Transformable zygotic embryos of one of the ETH genotypes were used as positive control. Our results indicate that gametic embryos can potentially be transformed by particle bombardment, since they responded positively to all the studied parameters, although with lower efficiencies than the zygotic embryos. In particular, differences were found in the rate of secondary embryogenesis and the density of transformed cells.

Maize transformation technology development for commercial event generation

“…It would be nice to produce plants homozygous for the trait during event generation. Aulinger et al (2003) used gametic haploid embryos produced from another culture for biolistic transformation. After transformation haploid embryos were treated with a chromosome doubling agent like colchicine to produce fertile doubled haploid events.…”

Enhance Maize <i>(Zea mays L.)</i> Tolerance to Abiotic Stress Through the Genetic Transformation with Anthranilate Synthase (ASA2 Gene) Using Particle Bombardment

“…It is possible to introduce and express DNA stably in nearly 150 different plant species [24]. Microprojectile bombardment was reported to be the most suitable techniques for maize transformation [25,26]. Protocol improvement for maize transformation to increase the maize transformation efficiency and regeneration was performed [27].…”