A procedure for the production of fertile transgenic brassicas via Pi-
mediated transformation is reported in this paper. Transgenic hairy ro
ot lines were selected for 12 vegetable brassica cultivars and lines r
epresenting six varieties: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, caulif
lower, rapid-cycling (all Brassica oleracea) and Chinese cabbage (B. c
ampestris). Leaf explants or petioles of intact cotyledons were co-cul
tivated with Agrobacterium strain A4T harbouring various binary vector
s. The T-DNA region of all binary vectors contained a neomycin phospho
transferase II gene for kanamycin resistance, in addition to other gen
es. Hairy root lines grew prolifically on hormone-free medium containi
ng kanamycin. Transgenic shoots were regenerated from all cultivars ei
ther spontaneously or after transfer of hairy roots to a hormone-conta
ining medium. Southern analysis confirmed that the plants were transge
nic. Plants from all brassica types were successfully transferred to g
reenhouse conditions. Plants were fertile and segregation analysis con
firmed transmission of traits to progeny.