TRANSFORMATION OF LIQUIDAMBAR-STYRACIFLUA USING AGROBACTERIUM-TUMEFACIENS

We describe the molecular transformation of Liquidambar styraciflua us ing Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A binary TI-plasmid vector containing a chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to kanamycin and either a chimeric Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene, a chimeric E. coli beta-glucuronidase (GUS), or a chimeric tobacco anion ic peroxidase gene was introduced into sweetgum by co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Sweetgum shoots regenerated in the presenc e of kanamycin were confirmed to be transformed by genomic DNA blots o r the presence of GUS activity. The optimization of the transformation protocol and the incorporation of molecular transformation into a rap id germplasm improvement protocol are discussed.