TRANSIENT GENE-EXPRESSION IN ELECTROPORATED BANANA (MUSA SPP, CV BLUGGOE, ABB GROUP) PROTOPLASTS ISOLATED FROM REGENERABLE EMBRYOGENETIC CELL-SUSPENSIONS

Electroporation conditions were established for transient expression o f introduced DNA in banana (Musa spp., cv.'Bluggoe') protoplasts isola ted from regenerable embryogenic cell suspensions. The following param eters were found to be highly influential: electroporation buffer, pol yethylene glycol treatment and its duration before electroporation, us e of a heat shock, and chimaeric gene constructs. The maximum frequenc y of DNA introduction as detected by an in situ assay for transient ex pression of the uidA gene, amounted to 1.8% of total protoplasts. Sinc e plants have recently been regenerated from banana protoplasts at a h igh frequency, the present results may contribute to the production of transgenic banana.