Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of kiwi fruit

Genetically transformed kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa) plants were obtained from hypocotyl and stem segments co-cultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 harboring a binary vector, pLAN411 or pLAN421, which contained the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene and the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. After co-culturing with the A. tumefaciens, the hypocotyl or stem segments were cultured on a selection medium containing 25μg/ml kanamycin and 500μg/ml Claforan. After one month in culture, shoots had regenerated from the cuttings. Green shoots were analyzed for NPTII activity and GUS activity. Eighty-five percent of the green shoots examined expressed the nptII and GUS genes. GUS histochemical assays revealed strong GUS expression in guard cells, mesophyll cells, and trichomes.