蜡梅CpEXP1基因启动子的克隆及活性分析

【目的】细胞扩展蛋白(EXP)作为植物细胞壁的重要组成部分,参与种子萌发、营养器官发育、果实成熟、器官脱落、植物抗逆等植物生长发育过程中的多个环节。通过研究蜡梅细胞扩展蛋白基因CpEXP1启动子活性功能,为研究CpEXP1基因在蜡梅生长发育过程中的功能提供理论依据。【方法】以蜡梅‘磬口素心’为材料,通过hi-TAIL PCR法从蜡梅基因组DNA中克隆CpEXP1基因上游调控序列,利用生物信息学软件,分析CpEXP1基因启动子序列中潜在的顺式调控元件。构建该基因与GUS报告基因融合的植物表达载体,利用农杆菌介导的叶盘法在烟草叶片中进行启动子活性的瞬时表达研究,并进一步利用花序侵染法在拟南芥中进行稳定表达,利用GUS组织化学染色和GUS报告基因的实时荧光定量PCR检测,分析CpEXP1基因启动子的活性。【结果】获得了长度为2 485 bp的蜡梅细胞扩展蛋白基因CpEXP1上游调控序列(GenBank Accession:MG452931),序列分析表明该启动子中除含有核心元件TATA-box和CAAT-box外,还包含多个与植物非生物胁迫及组织特异表达相关的顺式作用元件。在烟草中的瞬时表达分析表明该启动子具备驱动报告基因GUS表达的功能。进一步对转基因拟南芥植株的GUS组织化学染色和GUS基因表达分析结果显示,CpEXP1基因启动子在转基因拟南芥种子萌发初期活性较强,在子叶以及幼苗真叶中未检测到GUS活性;在花和根中活性较弱;在成熟叶片中可以检测到GUS活性,特别是在衰老叶片叶柄脱落区表达强烈。此外,该启动子在幼果中具有较强活性,随后启动活性逐渐下降,成熟果荚中仅在果柄脱落处能够检测到GUS活性。同时,转基因拟南芥植株中的CpEXP1基因启动子活性受高温(42℃)、低温(4℃)和水杨酸(SA)诱导,特别是对低温胁迫响应强烈,在4℃低温处理后,转基因拟南芥叶片中GUS基因的表达量是处理前的的8.7倍。【结论】CpEXP1基因启动子在转基因拟南芥不同发育阶段、不同器官中的活性具有明显差异,推测该启动子可能在种子发芽、叶片脱落以及果实脱落中发挥作用,同时CpEXP1基因启动子活性可被不同非生物胁迫诱导,可能参与植物抵御非生物胁迫的调控途径。     

双价抗病基因植物表达载体构建及在烟草中表达的初步研究

多基因转化是基因工程研究热点之一。本研究应用DNA重组技术,将两个抗病机制不同,抗菌谱较广的抗病基因(天麻抗真菌蛋白GAFP和兔防御素NP1基因)构建在一个植物表达载体pBin35SGAFP-NP1上,两者具有各自的CaMV35S启动子和Nos终止子。通过根癌农杆菌介导,采用叶盘法转化烟草,PCR和PCR-Southern分析证明已将NP1和GAFP基因整合到烟草基因组中。离体抑菌实验表明转基因植株对真菌和细菌表现出一定的抗性。以上结果表明通过该表达载体进行遗传转化可获得含双价抗病基因植物,并能有效表达,提高转基因植物抗病能力。     

杨树PtRRI基因的组织特异性表达模式分析

[目的]模式植物在木本植物中鉴定的许多重要调控因子家族在木本植物中出现了基因家族成员扩张,但ARRs家族作为细胞分裂素响应调节因子在杨树基因组中成员数量反而减少,其在木本植物中如何行使功能需要进一步研究。[方法]本研究通过生物信息学构建PtRRI启动子与GUS融合表达载体,检测植物激素处理后PtRRI表达量和检测PPtRRI::GUS转基因植株在生根过程中GUS信号等方法,对杨树PtRRI基因的组织特异性表达模式进行分析。[结果]表明:PtRRI在杨树根部、形成层、木质部表达量相对较高,PtRRI转录受6-BA激素诱导,与其在不定根发育过程中激素调控下的表达相一致。[结论]PtRRI基因可能参与杨树的次级生长。     

梨S_(12)-RNase基因启动子植物表达载体的构建及转基因研究

为了检测S12-RNase启动子的表达特性,以pBI101.2为基础,构建了砂梨S12-RNase基因启动子5’端系列缺失植物表达载体PS12-(0～5)-GUS-pBll01.2,并通过农杆菌介导的Floral Dip法转化哥伦比亚野生型拟南芥。卡那霉素和PCR鉴定表明:GUS基因已整合到转基因植株的基因组中,为下一步进行启动子功能的鉴定奠定了基础。     

种子胚特异性启动子的克隆及其功能验证

以水稻品种日本晴DNA为模板,用PCR的方法从水稻胚特异性表达基因OsESG上游序列扩增出特异性条带,克隆出种子胚特异性启动子,长度为1.1kb,且已知的功能部位序列没有发生改变。用它构建了带动报告基因GUS表达的双元载体,并用农杆菌介导法转化水稻得到了转基因植株。对GUS基因的表达检测表明,由该启动子序列引导的GUS基因仅在胚中特异性表达,而其它组织中都未表达,证实该启动子具有胚特异性表达的功能。     

8年生嫁接转基因杨树Bt毒蛋白的表达与运输

【目的】研究经历多年生长和对复杂自然环境适应后,嫁接的8年生转基因741杨中外源Bt基因是否稳定存在及表达,探索成年树木Bt毒蛋白的运输部位、运输量、运输的方向性和积累等规律。【方法】利用转Bt Cry1Ac基因741杨与未转基因741杨互为砧木和接穗进行嫁接,在自然条件下生长8年后,对2种不同嫁接方式杨树砧木和接穗的Bt Cry1Ac基因进行PCR检测和验证,利用ELISA技术对成年嫁接杨树的不同部位、不同组织进行毒蛋白含量检测。【结果】Bt Cry1Ac基因的PCR检测结果表明,Pb29/741嫁接杨中接穗部分和741/Pb29嫁接杨中砧木部分均扩增出与阳性对照大小一致的特异性条带,其余非转基因部分和阴性对照未扩增出特异性条带,证明Bt基因在嫁接杨树的转基因部分稳定存在,未发现外源基因丢失现象。ELISA检测表明,2种不同嫁接方式处理的741杨砧木和接穗的叶片、韧皮部、木质部和髓中均检测到Bt毒蛋白存在,证明Bt基因在8年生转基因嫁接741杨中稳定表达,且Bt毒蛋白可以在成年嫁接741杨的砧木和接穗间运输。Pb29/741成年株中,根部为非转基因部分,地上枝干部分为转基因组织,地上转基因组织能够表达Bt毒蛋白,其含量呈现出树冠外侧向内侧逐渐升高,树干部分向下又逐渐降低的趋势,且可以向根和树干基部非转基因组织运输和积累,以韧皮部运输为主。741/Pb29成年株中,根部为转基因部分,地上枝干为非转基因组织,根和树干基部组织也可以表达Bt毒蛋白,且可以由根部和干基部由枝干向树冠外侧运输并积累,以韧皮部运输为主;非转基因枝干部分呈现出树干向上逐渐降低,树冠内侧向外侧逐渐升高的趋势。【结论】尽管嫁接方式不同,嫁接的转基因杨树经历8年生长和复杂自然环境的影响和适应后,Bt毒蛋白的运输都呈现出由转基因组织向非转基因组织运输现象,毒蛋白含量呈现出类似由源向库运输和积累的趋势。转基因杨树可以通过传统嫁接方式在生产上应用,以提高转基因林木的生态安全性。     

杨树GRF1/2d负调控不定根的发生和发育

【目的】生长调节因子(GRFs)是一类植物特有的转录因子,调控植物生长发育的多个生物学过程。研究杨树组织和器官发育中GRFs的作用,尤其是对不定根形成的调控,不仅可以丰富根发育的理论,而且对于杨树的扦插繁殖具有实际应用价值。【方法】从银腺杨84K中分离了PtGRF1/2d基因和其启动子,通过对其miR396靶位点核苷酸进行同义突变,获得不受miR396调控的突变形式的mPtGRF1/2d,并将启动子和该突变形式分别构建至含有GUS报告基因的植物表达载体和过量表达载体,通过遗传转化分别获得PPtGRF1/2d∷GUS启动子驱动GUS转基因杨树和mPtGRF1/2d过表达转基因杨树。通过GUS染色分析PtGRF1/2d杨树启动子的表达特性,并对过表达mPtGRF1/2d杨树不定根的发生时间、数目和长度进行统计,利用qRT-PCR分析不定根发育早期相关转录因子的表达。【结果】PtGRF1/2d主要在根的中柱鞘和根尖位置表达,说明其参与了根的形成;过量表达mPtGRF1/2d基因影响了杨树不定根的发生、发育,导致了不定根发生延迟、数目和长度均减少,且差异均达到显著水平或极显著水平,表明PtGRF1/2d对不定根的发生和发育具有负调控作用。qRT-PCR分析显示,过表达mPtGRF1/2d杨树的不定根发育相关基因PtSCR,Pt AIL9,Pt BBM2,Pt PLT1.2和Pt WOX11b的表达量均被下调,表明PtGRF1/2d的过量表达抑制了根原基发生和不定根发育相关的关键调控因子的表达,影响了根原基的发生和不定根的形成,导致不定根数目和长度的变化,最终影响了杨树的生长。【结论】PtGRF1/2d作为不定根形成的负调控因子,位于不定根调控途径的上游,通过下调促进不定根形成的相关转录因子的表达来抑制根原基形成和不定根发育,导致不定根发生延迟、数目和长度减少。     

BtCry1Ac、BADH双价基因对烟草的遗传转化及表达检测

利用农杆菌介导法,将植物转化载体p209-BtCry1Ac-BADH转化烟草,获得了Kan筛选的完整再生植株。经PCR检测证明,4个株系中检测到BtCry1Ac和BADH基因。荧光定量PCR检测表明,检测到目的基因的株系中有3个株系的2个目的基因均在转录水平得到表达,且存在表达差异;有1个株系未检测到BADH基因的表达。ELISA毒蛋白检测表明,经荧光定量PCR筛选的3个株系均检测到毒蛋白的表达,含量最高为414.63ng/g。室内饲虫试验表明,3个转基因株系中只有2个株系对斜纹夜蛾幼虫表现出抗虫性,校正死亡率最高为38.2%,其余均未表现出明显抗虫性。选取2个株系进行组培苗耐盐试验,表明在不同NaCl浓度下,转基因株系与对照之间没有明显差异。研究中,有些系号经PCR检测说明BtCry1Ac和BADH基因已整合到植物基因组中,但荧光定量PCR和ELISA检测表明虽然基因整合到植物基因组中却未表达,有可能发生了基因沉默。     

不同长度ThVHAc1基因启动子片段分离及活性分析

[目的]VHAc基因(V-ATPase c亚基)是V-ATPase的重要亚基,能响应盐、重金属等胁迫,过表达刚毛柽柳ThVHAc1基因的酵母能提高抗CdCl_2耐NaCl能力。本研究拟通过分离ThVHAc1基因不同长度启动子片段并对其胁迫后活性进行分析,以进一步探讨ThVHAc1基因响应CdCl_2和NaCl胁迫的机制。[方法]根据ThVHAc1基因启动子中含有的Dof顺式作用元件的分布,将ThVHAc1基因上游启动子分为205 bp(-1—-205),504 bp(-1—-504)和781 bp(-1—-781)3个不同长度片段。将这些不同长度启动子片段分别替换p CAMBIA1301载体上的CaMV35S启动子,以驱动GUS基因表达,构建植物表达载体,利用农杆菌介导法转化拟南芥。对4周龄的T4代转基因拟南芥分别进行H_2O(非胁迫处理,对照)、100 mmol·L~(-1)NaCl和150μmol·L~(-1)CdCl_2胁迫处理,比较不同转基因株系的GUS染色和GUS酶活性。[结果]正常生长条件下,CaMV35S株系在根、茎、叶中均有GUS染色;3个启动子片段转基因株系均能在不同组织观察到GUS染色,且在根、茎、叶中有一定差异,但整体上GUS酶活性表现为781504205。NaCl胁迫下,CaMV35S株系的GUS染色及酶活性与正常生长条件相比无明显变化,但3个启动子片段转基因株系的GUS染色及酶活性均显著降低,且781株系的GUS酶活性分别为205和504株系的2.73和2.07倍;同时,3个启动子片段转基因株系的组织表达特性发生了一些改变,如,504株系在老叶中表达明显增强,嫩叶中减弱,根中无明显变化。CdCl_2胁迫下各转基因株系的GUS染色和酶活性变化趋势与NaCl胁迫相似。CdCl_2胁迫下,205,504,781株系的GUS酶活性分别为非胁迫时的52.4%,57.9%和80.9%;胁迫后的组织表达活性也发生了一些改变,205株系的GUS染色在老叶较深、嫩叶较浅,504株系则在各部分的表达较均匀,781株系大多叶片的GUS表达减弱;但781株系的GUS酶活性仍然最高,分别为205和504株系的2.67和2.07倍。[结论]ThVHAc1基因启动子片段的驱动活性与长度呈正相关;各不同片段启动子在根、茎、叶中的GUS染色及活性具有一定差异,体现在不同启动子片段的表达活性具有一定的组织特异性。NaCl和CdCl_2胁迫对ThVHAc1基因启动子的驱动能力具有一定影响,胁迫后各启动子片段转基因株系GUS酶活性均显著降低,但长片段受胁迫的影响程度低于短片段。Dof元件的数量在3个启动子片段中依次减少,表明Dof元件可能对NaCl和CdCl_2胁迫有一定的调节作用。同时,NaCl和CdCl_2胁迫对ThVHAc1基因启动子的组织表达特性具有一定的影响。     

杨树维管组织特异启动子的克隆与启动活性分析

启动子在基因表达调控中起关键性作用,它在很大程度上决定所控基因表达的时间、空间和强度。依据拟南芥ATH1芯片分析杨树维管形成时期特异表达基因的结果,选取了差异表达基因NST3,通过BLAST比对在杨树EST数据库(PopulusDB)中找到同源性较高的基因NAC068。以毛白杨为材料,在其基因组中克隆得到该基因5'侧翼区901 bp长的片段,命名为pProNAC068,将该片段置换pBI121载体中的CaMV35S启动子,并在84K杨中检测报告基因GUS的表达情况。经过GUS活性检测分析发现:该启动子可以控制外源基因在次生维管组织中特异表达,从而为基因工程中有目的的控制外源基因在维管组织中的表达奠定基础。     

杨树因伤诱导型启动子的克隆及功能分析

机械损伤或病虫害侵扰引起植物一系列防御相关基因的激活,其中一些是因伤诱导表达的．Ｂｒａｄｓｈａｗ等１９８９年报道了杨树Ｗｉｎ３基因家族中的一员,其编码产物类似于白薯和豆类胰蛋白酶抑制剂,并且是因伤诱导表达的。为了更全面的了解这一基因启动子在因伤介导表达中的作用,探讨其在基因工程用于控制外源基因表达的可能性,本文分别从欧洲黑杨（Ｐ．ｎｉｇｒａ）和美洲黑杨（Ｐ．ｄｅｌｔｏｉｄｅｓ）中扩增出ｗｉｎ３基因启动子ＷＩＮＰ（７０５ｂｐ）和ＷＩＤＰ（７９１ｂｐ）．这两个启动子与来自大肠杆菌的ＧＵＳ基因融合,通过根癌农杆菌Ｔｉ质粒转化系统引入烟草中．证实了ＷＩＮＰ和ＷＩＤＰ控制的ＧＵＳ基因的表达不仅在损伤部位,而且具有系统的因伤诱导效应．对８株转基因烟草的组织化学分析表明,其表达模式与以前的报道一致。无论是在受损伤组织还是完整组织中,ＷＩＮＰ的伤诱导活性总比ＷＩＤＰ高。这两个启动子需要进一步改造以增强其活性。     

Cloning and expression analysis of the FvNCED3 gene and its promoter from ash(Fraxinus velutina)

The 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase(NCED)gene is rate-limiting in abscisic acid(ABA) biosynthesis.In this study, an NCED gene, designated FvNCED3(KY008746), was cloned from velvet ash(Fraxinus velutina Torr.) with a RACE method. The full length c DNA of FvNCED3 encodes a 573-amino acid polypeptide.Sequencing analysis showed that the FvNCED3 protein was highly homologous to other NCED proteins. The expression patterns of FvNCED3 in different ash organs were analyzed by real-time PCR which revealed that FvNCED3 expression levels were highest in leaves and lowest in roots. The gene expression patterns of FvNCED3 under abiotic stress indicated that its expression increased under drought, salt and ABA stress and decreased due to high and low temperatures. There were no obvious changes under ultraviolet light. The 1094-bp upstream sequence 5' flank regulation region of the FvNCED3 gene was also cloned from ash using the Genome Walking method. To assess the activity of the FvNCED3 promoter, a p FvNCED3 p::GUS plant expression vector was constructed for tobacco transformation. GUS expression of the FvNCED3 GUS enzyme activity was detected in almost all transgenic tobacco tissues, especially in the young leaves,stigma, anther, ovule and ovary. After treating the transgenic tobacco with NaCl and placing it under drought stress, GUS staining of tobacco leaves increased compared with that under normal growth conditions. This result indicates that gene expression driven by the FvNCED3 promoter can be induced by salt and drought stress.     

GH3::GUS reflects cell-specific developmental patterns and stress-induced changes in wood anatomy in the poplar stem

GH3 genes related to the auxin-inducible Glycine max (L.) Merr. GmGH3 gene encode enzymes that conjugate amino acids to auxin. To investigate the role of GH3 enzymes in stress responses and normal wood development, Populus x canescens (Ait.) was transformed with the promoter-reporter construct GH3::GUS containing a GH3 promoter and the 5' UTR from soybean. beta-Glucuronidase (GUS) activity was present in the vascular tissues of leaves and in developing lateral roots and was inducible in silent tissues by external auxin application. A decrease in GUS activity from the stem apex to the bottom corresponded to decreases in auxin concentrations in these tissues. High auxin concentration and high GH3::GUS activity were present in the pith tissue, which may provide storage for auxin compounds. GH3 reporter was active in ray cells, paratracheal parenchyma cells, maturing vessels and in cells surrounding maturing phloem fibers but not in the cambium and immature phloem, despite high auxin concentrations in the latter tissues. However, the GH3 promoter in these tissues became active when the plants were exposed to abiotic stresses, like bending or salinity, causing changes in wood anatomy. We suggest that adjustment of the internal auxin balance in wood in response to environmental cues involves GH3 auxin conjugate synthases.     

Transgenic sterility in Populus: expression properties of the poplar PTLF, Agrobacterium NOS and two minimal 35S promoters in vegetative tissues

Transgenic sterility is a desirable trait for containment of many kinds of transgenes and exotic species. Genetically engineered floral sterility can be imparted by expression of a cytotoxin under the control of a predominantly floral-tissue-specific promoter. However, many otherwise desirable floral promoters impart substantial non-floral expression, which can impair plant health or make it impossible to regenerate transgenic plants. We are therefore developing a floral sterility system that is capable of attenuating undesired background vegetative expression. As a first step towards this goal, we compared the vegetative expression properties of the promoter of the poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray) homolog of the floral homeotic gene LEAFY (PTLF), which could be used to impart male and female flower sterility, to that of three candidate attenuator-gene promoters: the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S basal promoter, the CaMV 35S basal promoter fused to the TMV omega element and the nopaline synthase (NOS) promoter. The promoters were evaluated via promoter::GUS gene fusions in a transgenic poplar hybrid (Populus tremula L. x P. alba L.) by both histochemical and fluorometric GUS assays. In leaves, the NOS promoter conveyed the highest activity and had a mean expression level 5-fold higher than PTLF, whereas the CaMV 35S basal promoter fused to the omega element and the CaMV 35S basal promoter alone directed mean expression levels that were 0.5x and 0.35x that of PTLF, respectively. Differential expression in shoots, leaves, stems and roots was observed only for the NOS and PTLF promoters. Strongest expression was observed in roots for the NOS promoter, whereas the PTLF promoter directed highest expression in shoots. The NOS promoter appears best suited to counteract vegetative expression of a cytotoxin driven by the PTLF promoter where 1:1 toxin:attenuator expression is required.     

Cloning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">XET</Emphasis> gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthocephalus chinensis</Emphasis> and its plant expression vector construction

A full-length cDNA sequence of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase gene (XET), abundantly expressed in the cambium of Anthocepha-lus chinensis was cloned by conserved PCR, rapid-amplification of cDNA ends and by chromosome walking. Analytical results of the DNA sequence show that a 912 bp complete open reading frame (ORF) encoded a 303-amino acid protein was in the 1205 bp full cDNA sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence of AcXET, which contained the conserved specific EIDFE catalytic site sequence to XETs was homologous to the other known XET proteins. In order to study the gene function of AcXET and obtain transgenic plants, a plant expression vector pBIAcXET was constructed by recombinating the AcXET fragment from the cloning vector pMD19AcXET and the binary vector pBI121 between the XbaI and SmaI sites. The fragment of AcXET gene was inserted between the CaMV 35S promotor and the coding region of the GUS gene in pBI121. The identification results show that the plant expression binary vector pBIAcXET was constructed successfully. These results lay the foundation for studying the molecular mechanism of AcXET gene during wood formation.     

Expression of a carrot 36 kD antifreeze protein gene improves cold stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco

Antifreeze proteins （AFPs） enable organisms to survive under cold conditions, and have great potential in improving cold tolerance of cold-sensitive plants, In order to determine whether expression of the carrot 36 kD antifreeze protein gene confers improved cold-resistant properties to plant tissues, we tried to obtain transgenic tobacco plants which expressed the antifreeze protein. Cold, salt, and drought induced promoter Prd29A was cloned using PCR from Arabidopsis. Two plant expression vectors based on pBI121 were constructed with CaMV35S：AFP and Prd29A：AFP. Tobacco plantlets were transformed by Agrobacterium-medicated transformation. PCR and Southern blotting demonstrated that the carrot 36 kD afp gene was successfully integrated into the genomes of transformed plantlets. The expression of the afp gene in transgenic plants led to improved tolerance to cold stress. However, the use of the strong constitutive 35S cauliflower mosaic virus （CaMV） promoter to drive expression of afp also resulted in growth retardation under normal growing conditions. In contrast, the expression of afp driven by the stress-inducible Prd29A promoter from Arabidopsis gave rise to minimal effects on plant growth while providing an increased tolerance to cold stress condition （2℃）. The results demonstrated the prospect of using Prd29A-AFP transgenic plants in cold-stressed conditions that will in turn benefit agriculture.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS gene transformation of Robinia pseudoacacia ''''Idaho''''

Based on the plant regeneration system, a GUS gene transformation system to Idaho locust (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Idaho') mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens was established. The successful transformation was confirmed by regenerating the shoots from the infected leaves in the presence of hygromysin; by histochemical X-gluc assays ofβ-glucuronidase (GUS) and by PCR and PCR-Southern blotting analysis. The ratio of positive transgenic plants is 5.8% (5 out of 86 plants). With this system, the target gene DREB was introduced into the leaves of Idaho locust. The transgenic plants regenerated, which was verified by PCR-Southern blotting. It is suggested that the transformation system could be a new, simple, reliable and practical route to gene transformation of R. pseudoacacia 'Idaho' mediated with A. tumefaciens.     

Genetic transformation of loblolly pine using mature zygotic embryo explants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Introduction1Genetictransformationinconifershasthepotentialtoallowtheselectiveimprovementofindividualtraitsinelitecloneswhilestillmaintainingtheexistingcombinationofgenesresponsibleforthesuperiorphenotype(Charestetal.1991;Jamesetal.1996;Walteretal.1999).Atpresent,althoughconsiderableresearchefforthasbeendevotedtothegeneticengineeringofconiferspecies(Sederoffetal.1986;Bekkauoietal.1988,1990;Robertsonetal.1992;Bomminenietal.1993;Shinetal.1994;Klimaszewskaetal.1997),ithaslaggedbehindadvancesma…     

Genetic transformation of loblolly pine using mature zygotic embryo expiants byAgrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 carrying pBI121 plasmid was used to transform mature zygotic embryos of three genotypes (E-Hb, E-Ma, and E-Mc) of loblolly pine. The results demonstrated that the expression frequency of β-glucuronidase reporter gene (GUS) varied among genotypes after mature zygotic embryos were infected withAgrobacterium tumefaciens cultures. The highest frequency (27.8%) of GUS expressing embryos was obtained from genotype E-Mc with mean number of 21.9 blue GUS spots per embryo. Expression of β-glucuronidase reporter gene was observed on cotyledons, hypocotyls, and radicles of transformed mature zygotic embryos, as well as on organogenic callus and regenerated shoots derived from co-cultivated mature zygotic embryos. Nineteen regenerated transgenic plants were obtained from GUS expression and kanamycin resistant calli. The presence and integration of the GUS gene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis. These results suggested that an efficientAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation protocol for stable integration of foreign genes into loblolly pine has been developed and that this transformation system could be useful for the future studies on transferring economically important genes to loblolly pine.