Transformation of Wheat With the Gene Encoding the Coat Protein of Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus

Abstract

Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum cv. Hartog) were stably transformed with the bar gene and the gene encoding the barley yellow mosaic virus coat protein. Cultured immature wheat embryos were bombarded with tungsten particles coated with the pEmuPAT-cp construct. Fifteen regenerating 'PPT- resistant' plants were selected on medium containing phosphinothricin. Of these, 11 plants had both the bar and cp genes integrated into the wheat genome and two plants had only the bar gene. Transmission of the two genes to progeny of two independent plants was confirmed. The barley yellow mosaic virus coat protein was detected in both the parent and progeny plants; however, bar gene expression occurred only in the parent plants.