Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of oilseed Brassica campestris: Transformation frequency is strongly influenced by the mode of shoot regeneration.

Protocols were developed for efficient shoot regeneration from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants of oilseed Brassica campestris (brown sarson) cv. 'Pusa Kalyani'. These were used for genetic transformation by an Agrobacterium based binary vector carrying neomycin phosphotransferase (npt) gene and β-glucuronidase (gus)-intron gene for plant cell specific expression. Transformed plants were recovered from hypocotyl explants at a frequency of 7-13%. Addition of silver nitrate markedly enhanced shoot regeneration in hypocotyl explants under non-selection conditions and was found to be an absolute requirement under selection conditions. Cotyledon explants, inspite of being more regenerative, proved to be highly refractory to transformation. Only two chimeric transformed shoots were obtained from more than 10,000 cotyledons treated with Agrobacterium. In hypocotyl explants, shoot regeneration occurred from the vascular parenchyma both with and without the intervention of callus phase. Only the shoot buds differentiating from callus tissue were positive for GUS activity. In cotyledons, shoot buds originated only directly from the vascular parenchyma, generally at a distance of about 450-625 μ from the cut surface. Such shoots were negative for GUS activity.