AGROBACTERIUM-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION OF ALPINE FRAGARIA-VESCA, AND TRANSMISSION OF TRANSGENES TO R1 PROGENY

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was used to stably introduce bet a-glucuronidase (gus) and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) marker g enes into 'Alpine' Fragaria vesca FRA 197, a diploid (2n = 2x = 14) st rawberry. RO generation transformants derived from a single clump of k anamycin-resistant callus were vegetatively propagated. The presence o f the gus and nptII genes in five clonal RO runner plants was confirme d by PCR. Southern analysis suggested two sites of nptII insertion. Wh en R1 generation seedlings obtained via self-fertilization of RO plant s were tested by histochemical assay, 591 were GUS positive and 39 wer e GUS negative. The R1 segregation data fit a 15 : 1 ratio (0.5>P>0.25 ), consistent with the independent segregation of two transgene insert ion loci. These results demonstrate the suitability of 'Alpine' F. ves ca for transgene research in strawberry.