Recent Advances in Marker-free Transgenic Plants

The selectable marker genes are required to ensure the efficient plant genetic transformation.The presence of antibiotic or herbicide resistant selective marker genes in transgenic plants causes the concerns of the potential hazards on ecological environment and human health.Basically,there are two strategies available for generating marker-free transgenic plants,which are avoidance of resistance marker genes by using safer markers or without markers at all and marker gene elimination after selections. The marker-free transgenic plants are to promote the development and industrialization of transgenic plants and alleviate the safety concerns.