Abstract

Maize (Zea mays) is a major food crop of the world. Biotechnology plays an important role in plant genetic improvement, particularly for the introduction of novel traits in order to improve agronomic performance, medical and industrial applications and food quality. Particle bombardment is a rapid and simple method that enables the generation of events and affords genes expression studies. Nonetheless, an appropriate reporter gene is necessary to visualize gene expression in the transformed cells. In this study, conditions for transient expression in maize calluses for high and low gene gun pressure devices were optimized and their efficiencies were compared. Performance of gus and gfpreporter genes, either bombarded alone or together, was measured and compared. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing these reporter genes in maize calluses and immature wheat embryos are discussed. Finally, we report that for transient transgene expression studies, the particle inflow gun (or LPGG) caters the need while a commercial gene gun (HPGG) device is not of much need.

Key words: Biolistic, transient expression, reporter genes, plant genetic improvement.