MAIZE TRANSFORMATION VIA HELIUM BLASTING

A review of several aspects of maize transformation via microparticle bombardment using helium blasting is presented. The principle and desi gn of two novel devices with rapid blasting and/or aiming capabilities is described. Following particle delivery mostly into the upper 2- 3 cell layers, high levels of transient expression were seen in various tissue targets tested. Stable transgenics were successfully produced u sing 4 different tissue targets. These include cell suspension culture s,'Type II' callus,'Type I' callus and immature embryos. Overall, heli um blasting was very effective for gene transfer for high throughput p roduction of transgenic maize.