Progress towards the Genetic Transformation of Four Tropical Acacia Species: Acacia Mangium, Acacia Crassicarpa, Acacia Mearnsii and Acacia Albida

The genus Acacia includes about 1100 species, which are mostly shrubs and small trees of the dry savannas and arid regions of Australia, Africa, India and the Americas. Of these, A. mangium, A.crassicarpa, A. mearnsii and A. albida belong to the Leguminosae family the third largest familyof the plant kingdom (Allen & Allen, 1981). A few, such as A. mearnsii, are suited to cool areas both in temperature regions and in tropical highlands whereas a third small group which includes A. mangium and A. crassicarpa, is adaptedto hot and humid conditions.