Genetic transformation by particle bombardment of cultivated jute, Corchorus capsularis L.

Abstract

Using a biolistic particle delivery system, we have developed an efficient protocol for the generation of stable genetic transformants in jute (Corchorus capsularis var. JRC 321). The apical, meristematic region of a germinating seedling was used as the explant. Multiple shoots were generated from each explant using a medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine (0.2 mg/l) and indole-3-butyric acid (0.5 mg/l). Cotransformation was carried out with the bialaphos resistance gene bar and the rolC gene of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The positive transformants containing the bar gene grew in growth medium containing 2 mg/l bialaphos. Southern, Northern, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses provided evidence of gene integration into the genomic DNA of jute. Transgenic plants were resistant to bialaphos. One plant had an altered growth pattern, most likely due to the expression of the transferred rolC gene. The TO transformants showed a stable inheritance of the trans gene to their progenies.