Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation and regeneration of Morus alba L.

An efficient method was established for genetic transformation of Morus alba clone M5 using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer. Cotyledon explants from in vitro grown seedlings were co-cultivated with disarmed strain LBA 4404 harbouring the binary vector p(BI121) carrying chimeric beta-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) genes. Maximum transformation frequency of 18.60% was recorded with 48 It of pre-conditioning followed by co-cultivation for the same duration. Expression and presence of transgene was confirmed by histochemical test and polymerase chain reaction. The transgenic plants were micropropagated and successfully acclimatised. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.