Genetic Transformation of Musa acuminata cv. Vaibalhla (AAA) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Musa acuminata cv. Vaibalhla (AAA) was performed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring pCAMBIA2301AtNHX1 plasmid. For the transformation efficiency assay, the un-and pre-cultured immature male flower explants were subjected to various methods of injury such as hypodermal needle injury, with and without sonication and vacuum infiltration. The explants were then inoculated in bacterial suspension by occasional shaking for 30 minutes. After inoculation, explants were co-cultivated for 3 days in dark condition at 22° C in a liquid MS basal medium supplemented with 100 µM acetosyringone. For selection of transformants, the treated explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BAP (2 mg/L), NAA (0.5 mg/L) and ascorbic acid (75 mg/L) along with antibiotics kanamycin (100 mg/L), cefotaxime (300 mg/L) and augmentin (300 mg/L).The putative transformation was analyzed using histochemical GUS assay. 14 and 21 days pre-cultured male flower explants subjected to 4-5 needle point injury resulted in 93.33% and 100% putative transformation respectively. 30s sonication combined with 5 minutes of vacuum infiltration for 7, 14 and 21 days pre-cultured immature male flower explants gave 73.33%, 66.66% and 71.42% putative transformation respectively.