[Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated maize transformation]

Several maize inbreds were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA101 (pGIH). Transgenic maize plants were obtained. Frequency of transformation of maize inbred Suyu No. 1 can reach 8.1%. Results of PCR and Southern blot analysis proved that T-DNA was stably integrated into the genome of maize. Staining with X-gluc confirmed the expression of GUS gene in maize cells. The band amplified by inverse PCR showed that the copy number of transgene in three transformants was single. After long term of subculture, some hygromycin resistant calli lost their regeneration ability. Although Southern blot probed the integration of gusA gene in their genome, GUS activity cannot be detected in those calli. Southern blot analysis of HpaII digest DNA showed that transgenic gusA gene was highly methylated.