GUS gene expression and plant regeneration via co-culturing with Agrobacterium in grapevine (Vitis vinifera)

Abstract Efficient transformation and regeneration methods are a priority for successful application of genetic engineering to vegetative propagated plants such as grape. In this study, methods for Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated trans-formation and plant regeneration of grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ) were evaluated. Tamnara, Heukgoosul, Heukbosek, Rizamat were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strains, LBA4404 containing the vector pBI121 carrying with CaMV 35S promoter, GUS gene as reporter gene and resistance to kanamycin as selective agent. Seven percent of the maximum regeneration frequency was obtained from co-cultivated with explants from Rizamat with LBA4404 strain on selection medium with kanamycin. The addition of acetosyringone, 200 μm in virulence induction step was a key factor for successful GUS reporter gene expression in grapevine transformation. Transgenic plants showed resistance to kanamycin and the GUS positive response in leaf (T 0 ) stem (T 0 ) and petiole (T 0