The biolistic process is still rapidly evolving. We do not anticipate further major improvements in biolistic apparatus. There will probably still be further major improvements in particles, DNA coating, and vectors, as well as significant further advances in understanding of biological determinants of cell penetration and survival. The technology has currently reached the point at which it can be readily and reliably used for a wide range of applications. Given the information presented in this chapter, new applications can be optimized fairly readily.

Optimizing the biolistic process for different biological applications.

Herbicide Resistant Fertile Transgenic Wheat Plants Obtained by Microprojectile Bombardment of Regenerable Embryogenic Callus

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Herbicide resistant fertile transgenic wheat plants obtained by microprojectile bombardment of regenerable embryogenic callus

This invention relates to a reproducible system for the production of stable, genetically transformed maize cells, and to methods of selecting cells that have been transformed. One method of selection disclosed employs the Streptomyces bar gene introduced by microprojectile bombardment into embryogenic maize cells which were grown in suspension cultures, followed by exposure to the herbicide bialaphos. The methods of achieving stable transformation disclosed herein include tissue culture methods and media, methods for the bombardment of recipient cells with the desired transforming DNA, and methods of growing fertile plants from the transformed cells. This invention also relates to the transformed cells and seeds and to the fertile plants grown from the transformed cells and to their pollen.

Methods and compositions for the production of stably transformed fertile monocot plants and cells thereof

We obtained transgenic maize plants by using high-velocity microprojectiles to transfer genes into embryongenic cells. Two selectable genes were used to confer resistance to either chlorsulfuron or phosphinothricin, and genes encoding either E. coli beta-glucuronidase or firefly luciferase were used as markers to provide convenient assays for transformation. When regenerated without selection, only two of the eight transformed embryogenic calli obtained produced transgenic maize plants. With selection, transgenic plants were obtained from three of the other eight calli. One of the two initial lines produced 15 fertile transgenic plants. The progeny of these plants contained and expressed the foreign genes. Luciferase expression could be visualized, in the presence of added luciferin, by overlaying leaf sections with color film.

Inheritance and expression of chimeric genes in the progeny of transgenic maize plants.

Fertile transgenic Zea mays (corn) plants which stably express recombinant DNA which is heritable are provided wherein said DNA preferably comprises a recombinant gene which encodes a seed storage protein, so that the amino acid profile of the corn is improved

Fertile transgenic corn plants

Somatic embryogenesis was induced in hypocotyl explants of geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum) cultured on media supplemented with various concentrations of N-phenyl-N′-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron). In less than 2 weeks, somatic embryos were observed in treatments containing levels of thidiazuron (TDZ) ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 micromolar. The use of N6-benzylaminopurine in combination with indole-3-acetic acid also evoked embryogenesis, but the efficiency of somatic embryo production was significantly lower than that obtained with TDZ. Hypocotyl culture for only 2 days on TDZ-supplemented medium before transfer to a basal medium was sufficient for inducing somatic embryogenesis. This distinction between the induction and expression of embryogenesis may provide an experimental system for studying the developmental biology of somatic embryogenesis. Substitution of the auxin-cytokinin requirement for the induction of somatic embryogenesis by TDZ suggests the possibility of a novel mode of its action by modulation of endogenous growth regulators.

Morphoregulatory Role of Thidiazuron: Substitution of Auxin and Cytokinin Requirement for the Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis in Geranium Hypocotyl Cultures

Transient expression of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene has been detected in cultured barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Heartland) cells and freshly isolated immature zygotic embryos (cv. Ellice) following the introduction of the gene by microprojectile bombardment. The DNA expression vector used to introduce the CAT gene, pCaMVI1CN, is a pUC8 derivative and consisted of a CaMV35S promoter, a fragment of alcohol dehydrogenase intron1, a CAT coding region and NOS polyadenylation region. The inclusion of the Adh1 intron1 was essential for the expression of CAT activity in cultured cells as well as immature zygotic embryos. Expression of CAT activity, which was dependent upon the DNA concentration used, could be detected as early as 20 h after bombardment. The results also suggested that the recipient cells have to be in an active state of cell division in order for the introduced gene to be expressed since mature zygotic as well as somatic embryos failed to reveal any gene expression. The effect of other parameters which influence the expression of the introduced gene as well as the potential of this novel technology for cereal transformation are also discussed.

Transient expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in barley cell cultures and immature embryos through microprojectile bombardment

A cryoselection protocol has been developed that provides freezing-tolerant callus that, in turn, can regenerate plants with enhanced cold hardiness. Tolerant calli were selected from spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) callus by immersion in liquid nitrogen without addition of cryoprotectants. Less than 15% of the calli survived the initial challenge, whereas 30 to 40% of previously selected calli survived subsequent exposure. Seed progeny from five of 11 regenerant (R2) lines tested exhibited significantly enhanced tolerance to freezing at −12°C. Thus, cryoselection appears to involve at least in part, selection for genetic rather than epigenetic variants. Analysis of one callus line indicated that cryoselection did not induce significant alterations in lipid composition, adenylate energy charge, or freezing point. An increase in the soluble sugar component was detected. Changes were also detected in the protein complement of microsomal membrane and soluble protein extracts of cryoselected callus. In all, seven unique proteins ranging from 79 to 149 kilodaltons were identified. The results demonstrate that freezing tolerant callus can be isolated from a heterogeneous population by cryoselection, and factors that contribute to hardiness at the callus level are biologically stable and can contribute to tolerance at the whole plant level.

Regeneration of Freezing-Tolerant Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants from Cryoselected Callus

Zygotic embryos from ten spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were tested for embryogenic callus induction in the presence or absence of externally supplied (±)-abscisic acid (ABA) and two of its analogs, methyl abscisate and methyl epoxy-beta-ionylideneacetate. (±)-ABA and its analogs suppressed precocious germination of cultured late-stage embryos and promoted embryogenic callus induction. A significantly greater number of plants was regenerated from calli induced in the presence of ABA and ABA analogs. Early-stage embryos when cultured in the presence of (±)-ABA showed a negative response. Possible roles of ABA with respect to the expression of somatic embryogenesis are discussed.

Modulation of somatic embryogenesis in early and late-stage embryos of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the influence of (±)-abscisic acid and its analogs

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) zygotic embryos were successfully cryopreserved, without the addition of exogenous cryoprotectants, using only an abscisic acid (ABA) pretreatment. Optimum survival was obtained when embryos were cultured in vitro for 10 days on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L (±) ABA prior to cryopreservation. The embryos resumed growth within three days when returned to MS medium devoid of ABA but containing 2mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The embryogenic calli produced from these embryos exhibited normal plant regeneration on auxin-free media. Changes in dw/fw ratio, as well as the esterified fatty acid and sucrose concentrations correlated positively with the development of tolerance to cryopreservation.

Javed A. Qureshi

Papers

Morphoregulatory Role of Thidiazuron: Substitution of Auxin and Cytokinin Requirement for the Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis in Geranium Hypocotyl Cultures

Transient expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in barley cell cultures and immature embryos through microprojectile bombardment

Regeneration of Freezing-Tolerant Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants from Cryoselected Callus

Modulation of somatic embryogenesis in early and late-stage embryos of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the influence of (±)-abscisic acid and its analogs

Cryopreservation of immature spring wheat zygotic embryos using an abscisic acid pretreatment.