PRODUCTION OF TRANSGENIC SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM-OFFICINARUM L) PLANTS BY INTACT CELL ELECTROPORATION

We describe an efficient procedure for genetic transformation of comme rcial sugarcane varieties POJ 2878 and Ja 60-5. The transformation pro tocol is based on electroporation of a plasmid conferring GUS activity into cell clusters isolated from embryogenic calli. Six to eight week s after electroporation, Ja 60-5 plants regenerated from electroporate d tissues were tested and confirmed to be transgenic using histochemic al glucuronidase and Southern hybridization analysis. Electroporation of intact cells is an efficient and reproducible method for sugarcane transformation and may also be useful for transformation of other plan ts.