Towards genetic transformation in the monocot Alstroemeria L.

The successful application of plant biotechnology to Alstroemeria improvement will largely depend on the availability of an efficient regeneration/transformation system. Regeneration in Alstroemeria is accomplished from nodular embryogenic callus initiated from zygotic embryos. Histological studies of embryogenic callus initiation from 4-weeks old cultured ovules revealed that the outermost layers of the protoderm of the embryogenic nodules divided to form either a new nodule or aproembryo. Transient gene expression after particle bombardment of nodular embryogenic callus was optimized using DNA of pAHC25. The highest β-glucuronidase expression was found when the GUS gene was under control of the maize ubiquitin promoter, the target tissue was placed 5 cm below the microcarrier launch assembly and when the rupture disc-breakage point was between 650–900 psi. Kanamycin blocked regeneration of somatic embryos, however, did not block growth of nodular embryogenic callus. With phosphinothricin both callus growth and regeneration were blocked. Bombardment of nodular embryogenic callus with DNA of pAHC25 combined with selection on medium containing phosphinothricin resulted in putative transgenic chimeric. Friable calli were selected from nodular embryogenic callus and used to initiate suspensions. These cell suspensions were subjected to transformation by particle bombardment using DNA of pAHC25 and resulted in a stable transformed friable callus line after selection based on luciferase activity. Even after 2 years of maintenance this callus line was luciferase positive and the Polymerase Chain Reaction analysis demonstrated the presence of the introduced gene in this friable callus line.