Electroporation and PEG delivery of DNA into maize microspores

The ability to deliver and detect reporter gene activity in maize microspores was tested. Tested expression vectors contained the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene and one of the following promoter-intron combinations: 1) cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV 35S), 2) CaMV 35S + maize alcohol dehydrogenase 1 intron 6 (Adh1-I6), 3) maize alcohol dehydrogenase 1 + intron 1 (Adh1-I1), or 4) maize ubiquitin 1 + intron 1 (Ubiq 1-I1) promoter + intron. The expression vectors were delivered into maize microspores using electroporation or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Both methods were effective for delivering free DNA into microspores. Although all four promoters were active in maize protoplasts, only two promoters were active in maize microspores. The CaMV 35S and the Adh1 promoters did not promote gene expression in maize microspore. The CaMV 35S + Adh1-I6 and Ubiq1-I1 promoters produced high levels of CAT activity in maize microspores.