Optimizing Transformation Techniques in Indica Rices : Agrobacterium mediated transformation in indica rices

Genetic manipulation provides an useful adjunct to conventional breeding approaches .Solving this problem will entail development of rice varieties with higher yields, excellent grain quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Present study, was aimed to develop transgenic elite indica cultivars expressing the GUS gene through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and to characterize the resultant putative transgenic lines at molecular level. With a view to optimizing an Agrobacterium - mediated transformation protocol for indica genotypes viz., ASD 16, White ponni, Pusa Basmati 1, Pusa Sugandha 4 and Pusa Sugandh 5 were transformed with the strain EHA 105 harbouring pCAMBIA 1305 1. Several factors genotype, explant, size of explant, age of explant, hormonal composition of the medium, nutritional supplements, duration of cocultivation, inoculation time, virulence of strain, concentration of bacteriostatic agent, effect of acetoyringone, duration of selection and concentration of antibiotic selection marker were used to assess the transient expression and transformation efficiency. This developed protocol may used as a biotechnological tool to improve the indica rices.