Generation of transgenic Eucalyptus globulus plantlets through Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation

Abstract

A procedure for genetic transformation of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. using Agrobacterium tumefaciens is described. Young seedlings obtained from mature seeds were chosen as target material. The most important factors affecting transformation efficiency were the nature of the A. tumefaciens strain, precultivation of the seedlings and wounding of the tissues. The optimised procedure allowed us to obtain the first transgenic plants for E. globulus. On selective medium, 1.2% of the inoculated seedlings regenerated shoots resistant to kanamycin and expressing the gusA gene. Molecular evidence for the presence of stably integrated T-DNA is provided for two plants.