TRANSFER OF BT-TOXIN PROTEIN GENE INTO MAIZE BY HIGH-VELOCITY MICROPROJECTILE BOMBARDMENTS AND REGENERATION OF TRANSGENIC PLANTS

Bt-toxin protein gene was successfully transferred into maize by the m icroprojectile bombardments of cell suspension, embryogenic calli and immature embryos with a Chinese-made particle gun (JQ-700). Although t he bombarded embryogenic calli and immature embryos produced less mean transformants per dish than the cell Suspensions, they were the suita ble materials for maize transformation because their culture and regen eration haw: been achieved in most maize cultivars. The evaluation on the resistance of transgenic plants to coin borer shows the significan t difference between them, from highly resistant to susceptible.