Plant Tissue Cult. 6(1) : 25-34, 1996

Agrobacterium-mediated GUS Expression in Maize Tissues with Evidence for a Bacteriocidal Effect in Immature Embryos

E. M. Southgate, R. J. Westcott¹, J. B. Power and M. R. Davey

Plant Genetic Manipulation Group, Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

Key words: Maize, Embryogenic callus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, GUS expreesion

Abastract

Transient expression of the gus gene has been demonstrated in embryogenic callus of the two maize lines, A 188 and Pa91 and in cell suspensions of ?Black Mexican Sweet? after co-cultivation with supervirulent strains (1065 and AGL0) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying a gus-intron reporter gene. Immature embryos had bacteriocidal effects causing inhibition of bacterial growth, which prevented transformation of these tissue. Demonstration of Agrobacterium-mediated tranient gene expression in cultured tissues of maize, a major cereal normally recalcitrant to transformation by this natural vector, is the first step in the production of transgenic maize plants using this gene delivery method.

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