Transgenic Grapevines: Regeneration of Shoots Expressing β-Glucuronidase

Abstract

Genetic transformation has been studied in fragmented shoot apex cultures of Vitis vinifera L. following co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transgenic shoots of the cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon, tolerant to low levels of kanamycin, have been produced. Proliferation of transgenic cells in the presumptive bud forming area of cultured fragments has been observed using the enzyme activity of β-glucuronidase (GUS) as a marker. The distribution of GUS stained cells both in this tissue and in transgenic shoots, the presence of low copy numbers of the neomycin phosphotransferase II gene in transgenic shoots and the relatively low levels of kanamycin resistance suggest that these shoots contain both transformed and untransformed cells.