Abstract
Transient uidA expression was used to optimize parameters required for biolistic transformation of suspension cells of Easter lily, Lilium longiflourm. Maximum uidA expression occurred following bombardment with gold particles as compared to tungsten. A 3hr pre-treatment of suspension cells with 0.125M osmoticum resulted in a 1.5X increase in uidA expression. A helium pressure of 1550 psi combined with a particle travelling distance of 6cm resulted in maximum uidA expression as compared to either 1100, 1200, or 1800 psi. Transient transformation resulted in up to 493 uidA expressing cells/Petri plate. For stable transformation suspension cells of Lilium longiflorum, were co-bombarded with plasmid DNA containing cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) replicase under the rice actin (Act1) promoter and either the bar or PAT genes under the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV 355) promoter. Ten regenerated plants contained the transgene as analyzed by PCR, and two of the ten plants were confirmed to contain the transgene by Southern hybridization. The two transgenic plants were independent transformants, one containing the bar gene and the other both the CMV replicase and bar genes. Plants were sprayed at the rosette stage and found to be resistant to 1000 mg/L of phosphinothricin (Trade name-Ignite) indicating expression of the bar gene throughout the leaves when bar was under control of the CaMV 35S promoter.