Stable genetic transformation of intact Nicotiana cells by the particle bombardment process

We show that the genetic transformation of Nicotiana tabacum can be achieved by bombarding intact cells and tissues with DNA-coated particles. Leaves or suspension culture cells were treated with tungsten microprojectiles carrying plasmid DNA containing a neomycin phosphotransferase gene. Callus harboring the foreign gene was recovered from the bombarded tissue by selection on medium containing kanamycin. Kanamycin-resistant plants have subsequently been regenerated from the callus derived from leaves. Transient expression of an introduced beta-glucuronidase gene was used to assess the efficiency of DNA delivery by microprojectiles. The frequency of cells that were stably transformed with the neomycin phosphotransferase gene was a few percent of the cells that transiently expressed the beta-glucuronidase gene. These results show that gene transfer by high-velocity microprojectiles is a rapid and direct means for transforming intact plant cells and tissues that eliminates the need for production of protoplasts or infection by Agrobacterium.