Genetic engineering of grain legumes: key transformation events.

Abstract

A well defined, preferably simple, shoot regeneration protocol is a prerequisite for the production of transgenic plants. Grain legumes are one of the least amenable groups to transformation amongst dicotyledonous crops, although they are usually susceptible to Agrobacterium infection. Important parameters for successful transformation of grain legumes include the characteristics of the Agrobacterium strain used for inoculation of target plant tissues, the vectors which the bacterial strain carries, the co-cultivation period and a selection system combined with suitable explants that contain transformation competent cells. Particle bombardment is an alternative procedure for those legumes which fail to respond to Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer.