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Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): gene integration, expression and inheritance

  • Genetics and Genomics
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Abstract

A reproducible method of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was developed for Cicer arietinum (chickpea). Initial explants consisted of longitudinal slices from embryonic axes of imbibed, mature seed. The plasmid contained a bi-functional fusion gene conferring both β-glucuronidase and neomycin phosphotransferase activities, under the control of a 35S35SAMV promoter. Using a series of tissue culture media for co-cultivation, shoot initiation and rooting, we recovered transgenic plants from approximately 1.3% of the sliced embryo axes. The addition of a shoot elongation medium to the protocol improved the success rate to 3.1% but increased the time in tissue culture. Inheritance of the gus gene was followed through four generations, both through expression and Southern hybridization assays, and showed the expected Mendelian inheritance pattern.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of Mr. Terry Bethune during the initial stages of the study and the molecular analysis of plants by Ms. Maureen Anderson. The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association provided partial funding for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Pl., Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 0W9

    P. L. Polowick, D. S. Baliski & J. D. Mahon

Authors
  1. P. L. Polowick
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  2. D. S. Baliski
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  3. J. D. Mahon
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Correspondence to P. L. Polowick.

Additional information

Communicated by M.C. Jordan

NRCC Grant No. 46589.

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Polowick, P.L., Baliski, D.S. & Mahon, J.D. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): gene integration, expression and inheritance. Plant Cell Rep 23, 485–491 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-004-0857-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-004-0857-0

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