Transient expression of beta-glucuronidase in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and roots and Brassica napus stems using a pneumatic particle gun.

Successful transient expression of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and roots and Brassica napus stems was obtained after gene delivery with a pneumatic particle gun driven by compressed air. Effects of the pneumatic pressure used to accelerate the particles (accelerating pressure; 85 to 200 kg/cm2) and of preculture periods of plant tissues (0 to 6 days) on the efficiency of gene delivery were studied. In A. thaliana leaves, best results were obtained at 115 kg/cm2 of accelerating pressure and 3 days of preculture. In A. thaliana roots, the optimum was at 200 kg/cm2 of accelerating pressure and 3 days of preculture. These results indicate that both preculture period and accelerating pressure are vital factors that determine the efficiency of gene delivery by particle gun.