title: Expression in cowpea seedlings of chimeric transgenes after electroporation into seed-derived embryos.
abstract: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp) embryos mechanically isolated from mature seeds and incubated in the presence of plasmid DNA harboring chimeric gus genes were shown to germinate into seedlings expressing β-glucuronidase activity in a variety of tissues, including the apical meristem. Embryo electroporation in the presence of DNA and protectants such as spermine and Lipofectin(TM) increased both the proportion of embryo-derived seedlings expressing the chimeric gene and the level of gene expression. Microscopic observations of thin sections showed that the blue crystals representing the end product of transgene activity on X-glu were exclusively located inside the treated cells. Histological localization of the blue dye crystals varied with the promoter used to drive the transgene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Washington State University, 99164-4234, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Akella
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lurquin