Optimization of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Rice and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants with Antisense Waxy Gene

Several rice varieties with various amylose content in grains were used for optimization of Agrobacterium mediated transformation of rice, and the suitable medium for induction of callus and suitable initially culture time were studied. For this transformation system, the HRM medium, based on the MS basal medium, was suitable for induction of callus from immature embryos. In the case of indica rice Xieqingzao B, the suitable time of initially culture in this medium was 8 days before co culturing with Agrobacterium. Based on this transformation system, the antisense waxy gene was introduced into different rice varieties and many transgenic lines were produced. Most of these transgenic plants were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot technique, and the results indicated that the T DNA had been integrated into the genome of transgenic rice plants. Genetic analysis of some T 1 transgenic plants showed that the transgenes were segregated normally in the progenies.