High Throughput Agrobacterium Transformation of Wheat: a Tool for Functional Genomics

Abstract

At Rothamsted Research UK, we have developed a robust protocol for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of elite wheat and during the last year, made over one hundred independent transgenic lines in one durum and three bread wheat varieties. We are now able to provide training or generate transgenic wheat lines as a not-for-profit service (see www.bract.org). Approximately 40% of our lines contain a single, functional T-DNA insertion. This paper describes the current status of Agrobacterium transformation of wheat and some initial molecular analysis of our lines. It also describes our plan to further increase througbput using mature seed-derived callus and other approaches.