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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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Agrobacterium-Mediated Immature Embryo Transformation of Recalcitrant Maize Inbred Lines Using Morphogenic Genes
Published on: February 14, 2020
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize
Yuji Ishida1, Yukoh Hiei, Toshihiko Komari
1Plant Innovation Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 700 Higashibara, Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. yuji.a.ishida@ims.jti.co.jp
Nature Protocols
|June 23, 2007
Summary
Efficient maize transformation is achievable using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Key factors include using healthy immature embryos from vigorous plants for optimal Agrobacterium-mediated transformation success.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Maize (Zea mays) transformation is crucial for genetic improvement.
- Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is a widely used method for maize genetic engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe an efficient protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated maize transformation.
- To identify critical factors influencing transformation efficiency and plantlet development.
Main Methods:
- Immature maize embryos were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
- Embryos were sourced from vigorous plants grown under controlled glasshouse conditions.
- Transformation efficiency was assessed across different inbred lines.
Main Results:
- The protocol achieved approximately 50% transformation efficiency in A188 inbred line and 15% in A634, H99, and W117.
- Transformed plants typically contained one to two transgene copies, inherited in a Mendelian fashion.
- Over 90% of transformants exhibited normal morphology, with the entire process taking around 3 months.
Conclusions:
- This optimized protocol enables efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize.
- The developmental stage and health of immature embryos are critical for successful transformation.
- The method yields stable, Mendelian inheritance of transgenes and normal plant morphology.
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