Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of African violet

A method for genetic transformation of Saintpaulia ionantha by co-cultivati on of in vitro-grown leaves and petioles with Agrobacterium tumefaciens is described. Two bacterial strains, EHA105 and A281 both harbouring the binar y plasmid pKIWI105 carrying the genes uidA and nptII, were used in the expe riments. Regenerants were not obtained using the disarmed strain EHA105. Th e oncogenic strain A281 resulted in efficient transient and stable expressi on of the transferred traits for petiole explants only. After transformatio n and regeneration, the integration of the transgenes in the plant genome w as confirmed by PCR analysis and Southern hybridization.