Genetic transformation of Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA group) cv 'GrandNain' via microprojectile bombardment

An effective method has been developed for the stable transformation and re generation of Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA group) cv 'Grand Nain' by mic roprojectile bombardment. Embryogenic cell suspensions were initiated using immature male flowers as the explant. Cells were co-bombarded with the neo mycin phosphotransferase (nptII) selectable marker gene under the control o f a banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) promoter or the CaMV 35S promoter, and e ither the beta-glucuronidase (uidA) reporter gene or BBTV genes under the c ontrol of the maize polyubiquitin promoter. Plants were regenerated, under selection with kanamycin, that were co-transformed with nptII and either th e uidA or BBTV genes. Molecular characterisation of transformants demonstra ted that the transgenes had been stably integrated into the banana genome.