Genetic transformation of regal pelargonium (Pelargonium Xdomesticum 'Dubonnet') by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The regal pelargonium cultivar, Dubonnet, has been transformed by using three binary vectors pKiwi110, pGA643 and pLN13 in the disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404. Kanamycin-resistant shoots were selected in regeneration medium and about 80% formed roots within 21 days in rooting medium containing 300 mg/l kanamycin monosulphate. Forty untransformed shoots failed to produce roots in the same medium, became chlorotic and died within 42 days. A total of 366 kanamycin-resistant shoots were successfully exflasked. We confirmed the stable integration of four transgenes (nptII, gusA, als, dfr) by Southern analysis. Thirteen plants that were regenerated from explants inoculated with LBA4404/pKiwi110, and exflasked to a containment glasshouse, were GUS positive 34 months after explants were inoculated. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.