Gene Introduction to Induce Morphogenesis

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, we have seen the development of many plant cell and tissue culture techniques that, individually or together with recombinant DNA techniques, are being used to modify crops in novel ways. Although these plant biotechnologies may employ a variety of strategies to achieve a particular crop improvement goal, there is one critical element that they all share, the necessity of regenerating a whole plant from a cultured cell, tissue, or organ. Progress has been made in this area with many plant species. For example, reports that were presented at the VI Congress of the International Association of Plant Tissue and Cell Culture (3-8 Aug. 1986) indicate that rice (Oryza sativa L.) now can be routinely regenerated from protoplasts. However, it is still not possible to regenerate plants from protoplasts of most major crops. Included in this list are wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (lea mays L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), and the major grain legume soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Our inability to regenerate plants from protoplasts of these crops constitutes a serious block to genetic modification via direct gene transfer techniques. This paper will consider regeneration in the context of soybean, and describe our efforts to devise a genetic, rather than a cultural-physiological solution to the problem.