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Improved Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of three maize inbred lines using MS salts

  • Genetic Transformation and Hybridization
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Abstract

Transformation technology as a research or breeding tool to improve maize is routinely used in most industrial and some specialized public laboratories. However, transformation of many inbred lines remains a challenging task, especially when using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the delivery method. Here we report success in generating transgenic plants and progeny from three maize inbred lines using an Agrobacterium-mediated standard binary vector system to target maize immature embryos. Eleven maize inbred lines were pre-screened for transformation frequency using N6 salts. A subset of three maize inbred lines was then systematically evaluated for frequency of post-infection embryogenic callus induction and transformation on four media regimes: N6 or MS salts in each of two distinct media backgrounds. Transgenic plants recovered from inbred lines B104, B114, and Ky21 were analyzed for transgene integration, expression, and transmission. Average transformation frequencies of 6.4% (for B104), 2.8% (for B114), and 8% (for Ky21) were achieved using MS salts. Availability of Agrobacterium-mediated maize inbred line transformation will improve future opportunities for maize genetic and functional genomic studies.

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Acknowledgements

Our thanks to S Gelvin for providing Agrobacterium strains C58Z707 and LBA4404; K Lamkey for patient and helpful discussion in characterizing inbred lines; F Zhang for technical assistance; S Assan for help with embryo dissection; and H Lowman, K Orbin, K Corey, R Hansen, R Rossi, JC Martinez, L Marcell and A Kalvig for help in the laboratory or greenhouse. Funding for this project was provided by the National Sciences Foundation (DBI 0110023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1010, USA

    Bronwyn R. Frame, Jennifer M. McMurray, Tina M. Fonger, Marcy L. Main, Kyle W. Taylor, François J. Torney, Margie M. Paz & Kan Wang

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  1. Bronwyn R. Frame
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  2. Jennifer M. McMurray
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  3. Tina M. Fonger
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  4. Marcy L. Main
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  7. Margie M. Paz
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  8. Kan Wang
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Correspondence to Kan Wang.

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Communicated by J. C. Register

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Frame, B., McMurray, J., Fonger, T. et al. Improved Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of three maize inbred lines using MS salts. Plant Cell Rep 25, 1024–1034 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0145-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-006-0145-2

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