Analysis and optimisation of DNA delivery into wheat scutellum and Tritordeum inflorescence explants by tissue electroporation

Abstract

Wheat scutella and tritordeum inflorescences were transformed by tissue electroporation with plasmid DNA containing a β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene (gus A) under the control of the rice actin1 promoter. Factors affecting electroporation efficiency were analysed. Important factors were electroporation voltage and pulse length, the volume of electroporation buffer, the osmoticum of electroporation buffer and medium, the osmoticum of pre-electroporation culture medium, and pre-electroporation incubation time and temperature. Maximum transient gene expression was obtained with a single pulse of 550 V/cm from a 960-μF capacitor, using 200 μl of electroporation buffer, after 2–3 h culture on media with 357 mOsm for wheat scutella or 1 day on media with 222 mOsm for tritordeum inflorescences, and 0.5–1 h pre-electroporation incubation with DNA at 24 °C. Under these conditions, up to 90% of the explants showed GUS expression, and up to 149 expression signals were recorded per replicate. Electroporated explants showed high rates of survival and retained the ability to regenerate plants via somatic embryogenesis.