INSITU DETECTION OF TRANSPOSITION OF THE MAIZE CONTROLLING ELEMENT (AC) IN TRANSGENIC SOYBEAN TISSUES

The development of a transposon mutagenesis system in soybean would aid in the isolation of unknown genes. The maize controlling element (Ac) has, therefore, been introduced into the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Ac was inserted into the untranslated leader region of the bacterial ß-glucuronidase gene (GUS) such that the excision of Ac resulted in restoration of the GUS gene activity. Excision events of the Ac element were monitored by detecting blue cells or sectors in transgenic soybean tissues. Using the GUS gene assay and with hybridization data, we have demonstrated that the Ac element transposes in transgenic soybean calli, leaves, stems, and roots. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.