title: Gametic embryos of maize as a target for biolistic transformation: comparison to immature zygotic embryos.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the suitability of maize gametic embryos of three ETH genotypes as a target for biolistic transformation. We studied parameters considered essential for a successful transformation, such as the frequency of secondary embryo formation, their regeneration ability and the transient transgene expression. Transformable zygotic embryos of one of the ETH genotypes were used as positive control. Our results indicate that gametic embryos can potentially be transformed by particle bombardment, since they responded positively to all the studied parameters, although with lower efficiencies than the zygotic embryos. In particular, differences were found in the rate of secondary embryogenesis and the density of transformed cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Universtitaetstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Aulinger
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stamp
mesh_terms: D019470:Biolistics / Q000379:methods*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D012639:Seeds / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers