High and low pressure gene gun devices give similar transformation efficiencies in maize calluses

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays) is a major food crop of the world. Biotechnology plays an important role in plant genetic
improvement, particularly for the introduction of novel traits in order to improve agronomic performance, medical and
industrial applications and food quality. Particle bombardment is a rapid and simple method that enables the
generation of events and affords genes expression studies. Nonetheless, an appropriate reporter gene is necessary to
visualize gene expression in the transformed cells. In this study, conditions for transient expression in maize calluses
for high and low gene gun pressure devices were optimized and their efficiencies were compared. Performance of gus
and gfp reporter genes, either bombarded alone or together, was measured and compared. In addition, the advantages
and disadvantages of utilizing these reporter genes in maize calluses and immature wheat embryos are discussed.
Finally, we report that for transient transgene expression studies, the particle inflow gun (or LPGG) caters the need
while a commercial gene gun (HPGG) device is not of much need.