Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cork oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis> L.) somatic embryos

A simple method is presented for the unreported genetic transformation of cork oak (Quercus suber L.). Pro-embryo masses (PEMs) were induced on immature zygotic embryos applied to medium supplemented with 2.3 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The established PEMs were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404/p35S GUS INT/pCAMBIA 1301 strain. Transformants were selected on hygromycin (HYG) 94 M-supplemented medium. Viable embryos constituted 13% of those selected on HYG during 4 months. Expression of -glucuronidase at 4 months following co-cultivation confirmed transformation in 5.8% embryos selected on HYG. This method forms a basis for genetic transformation of cork oak somatic embryos.