Transformation studies of Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Abstract Transformed plants of four different genotypes of Actinidia chinensis Planch, were recovered from experiments using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains A281 and C58, both carrying the binary vector pKIWI105. A. chinensis was compared to a related species A. deliciosa, in its amenability to transformation and regeneration procedures. During regeneration A. chinensis shoot initiation was more rapid and prolific than A. deliciosa, although A. chinensis was more sensitive to small changes in growth regulator concentration. Comparisons between the different genotypes of A. chinensis showed only minor differences in growth regulator preferences. The strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens that were effective as gene transfer agents in A. chinensis were the same as those which transformed A. deliciosa. Southern analysis and Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification of the transferred genes were used to confirm the transgenic nature of regenerated plantlets.