Molecular wheat breeding by direct gene transfer

A method for efficient genetic transformation of wheat has been developed using immature embryos as targets for microprojectile-mediated gene transfer and a helium driven particle delivery system. Screening and selection of transgenic cells, somatic embryos and regenerated plants are performed with the gus-gene and the phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) gene coding for Basta-resistance as the selectable marker. On average, one fertile transgenic plant can be obtained from about 100 microprojectile treated, immature embryos. The number of integrated copies of the transferred gene ranges from 1 up to about 10. Stable integrated genes are inherited in most of the transgenic lines in a normal mendelian fashion segregating 3:1 in the F₂. Homozygous, as well as heterozygous, lines have been followed and analysed genetically at the molecular level and up to F₅. Apart from normal stable gene expression, examples have also been found which showed a loss of gene activity or unexpected segregation pattern. For applied aspects, different genes are transferred aiming for improved disease resistance, modification of quality, or other characteristics. First results from these transgenic lines are reported, and problems still existing with the production of stable transgenic wheat lines are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.