Regeneration and transformation of Polish cultivars of potato

The article presents the results of regeneration and transformation experiments of 12 Polish cultivars of potato. The cultivars Brda, Bzura, Elipsa and Irga regenerated the highest number of shoots from leaf explants (60% to 100% of explants regenerated 4.9 to 16.5 shoots per explant). The cultivars Brda, Bzura, Elipsa and Irys were the source of the best regenerating tuber explants (66% to 100% of explants regenerated 6.2 to 11.9 shoots from one explant). Both types of explants (from leaves and tubers) were used for transformation experiments. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains used for transformation contained binary vector system: LBA 4404 (pAL 4404:pBI 121) and C58C1 (pGV2260:pVU104). There was a strong correlation between regeneration ability of tested cultivars and transformation efficiency. GUS-positive, kanamycin resistant and well rooted plants from leaf explants in cultivars Bzura, Brda and from tuber explants in Bzura and Elipsa were obtained. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of beta-glucuronidase mRNA in transgenic plants.