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Co–Transformation of Unlinked Foreign Genes into Plants by Direct Gene Transfer

Bio/Technology volume 4, pages 1093–1096 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Direct gene transfer experiments were carried out to find the rate of co–transformation of non–selectable and selectable (kanamycin resistance) genes offered to tobacco protoplasts as naked DNA on separate plasmids. After co–transformation, we could detect the presence of sequences from a zein genomic clone in up to 88% of kanamycin resistant (pABDI containing) cell clones, and a fragment containing the full zein genomic clone was found in up to 33% of the latter cases. In co–transformations with a nopaline synthase gene, up to 47% of the kanamycin resistant clones obtained in one treatment contained the non–selected gene, and the gene was complete and active in all of these latter cases. The high efficiency of co–transformation shows that direct gene transfer provides a rapid and easy method of introduction of non–selectable genes into plant genomes.

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Author notes

  1. R. D. Shillito

    Present address: Ciba Geigy Corp., P.O. Box 12257, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC, 27709-2257

  2. I. Potrykus: To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich Miescher-Institut, P.O. Box 2543, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    R. J. Schocher, M. W. Saul, J. Paszkowski & I. Potrykus

Authors
  1. R. J. Schocher
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  2. R. D. Shillito
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  3. M. W. Saul
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  4. J. Paszkowski
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  5. I. Potrykus
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Schocher, R., Shillito, R., Saul, M. et al. Co–Transformation of Unlinked Foreign Genes into Plants by Direct Gene Transfer. Nat Biotechnol 4, 1093–1096 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1286-1093

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