A highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method is needed for the molecular study of model tree species such as hybrid poplar 84K (Populus alba × P. glandulosa cv. '84K'). In this study, we report a callus-based transformation method that exhibits high efficiency and reproducibility. The optimized callus induction medium (CIM1) induced the development of calli from leaves with high efficiency, and multiple shoots were induced from calli growing on the optimized shoot induction medium (SIM1). Factors affecting the transformation frequency of calli were optimized as follows: Agrobacterium concentration sets at an OD600 of 0.6, Agrobacterium infective suspension with an acetosyringone (AS) concentration of 100 µM, infection time of 15 min, cocultivation duration of 2 days and precultivation duration of 6 days. Using this method, transgenic plants are obtained within approximately 2 months with a transformation frequency greater than 50%. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and β-galactosidase (GUS) histochemical staining analyses confirmed the successful generation of stable transformants. Additionally, the calli from leaves were subcultured and used to obtain new explants; the high transformation efficiency was still maintained in subcultured calli after 6 cycles. This method provides a reference for developing effective transformation protocols for other poplar species.
Keywords: Agrobacterium; callus; hybrid poplar; plant transformation; regeneration.