Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS gene transfer to Sophora japonica L.

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Sophora japonica was standardized using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 that harbored the binary vector pBI121 containing genes for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phosphotransterase (nptⅡ). S. japonica transformants were selected by the ability of the leaf explants to produce kanamycin-resistant calli that regenerated into kanamycin-resistant plantlets. Successful transformation was confirmed by histochemical assay for GUS activity, PCR analysis and Southern blot. The period of nearly two months was required for the regeneration of transgenic plantlets from the explants. The transformed plants resembled their parents in morphology.