ELECTROPORATION OF WHEAT ANTHER CULTURE-DERIVED EMBRYOIDS

Electroporation, a method of DNA delivery successfully used to transfo rm other cereal crops, shows potential to be a useful method for wheat transformation. The goal of this research was to identify the electro poration parameters that would result the highest number of regenerate d plants and evaluate selection criteria for transformation. Anther cu lture-derived embryoids were electroporated at 500 and 960 mu F with a nd without an enzyme pretreatment. Electroporation at 500 mu F produce d more regenerable embryoids than electroporation at 960 mu F. The pla smid used for electroporation and transformation selection contained t he uidA (GUS) and bar genes encoding for beta-glucuronidase and phosph inothricin acetyl transferase which imparts resistance to the herbicid e Pasta. Of the 66 plants regenerated thus far, one has expressed GUS activity. None have expressed Pasta resistance.