Rapid and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of sorghum

Plant Cell Rep. 2006 Aug;25(8):784-91. doi: 10.1007/s00299-005-0081-6. Epub 2006 Mar 10.

Abstract

A rapid and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for sorghum has been developed. The protocol uses the nptII selectable marker gene with either of the aminoglycosides geneticin or paromomycin. A screen of various A. tumefaciens strains revealed that a novel C58 nopaline chromosomal background carrying the chrysanthopine disarmed Ti plasmid pTiKPSF(2), designated NTL(4)/Chry5, was most efficient for gene transfer to sorghum immature embryos. A NTL(4)/Chry5 transconjugant harboring the pPTN290 binary plasmid, which carries nptII and GUSPlus expression cassettes, was used in a series of stable transformation experiments with Tx430 and C2-97 sorghum genotypes and approximately 80% of these transformation experiments resulted in the recovery of at least one transgenic event. The transformation frequencies among the successful experiments ranged from 0.3 to 4.5%, with the average transformation frequency being approximately 1% for both genotypes. Over 97% of the transgenic events were successfully established in the greenhouse and were fully fertile. Co-expression of GUSPlus occurred in 89% of the transgenic T(0) events. Seed set for the primary transgenic plants ranged from 145 to 1400 seed/plant. Analysis of T(1) progeny demonstrated transmission of the transgenes in a simple Mendelian fashion in the majority of events.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / genetics*
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Chromosome Segregation / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Plant / genetics
  • Embryonic Development
  • Genotype
  • Plant Tumor-Inducing Plasmids / genetics
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sorghum / embryology
  • Sorghum / genetics*
  • Sorghum / microbiology
  • Time Factors
  • Transformation, Genetic*