Efficient Regeneration and Transformation of Banana Using Secondary Somatic Embryogenesis via Microprojectile Bombardment

Category: Agriculture

Reference Number: 00320

Description

Secondary somatic embryogenesis was established using immature male flower buds of banana cultivar 'Apple' (Musa ssp. AAB group). An average of 75 to 85% of the secondary somatic embryos were regenerated into plantlets. This regeneration system has also been used to develop procedures for the efficient production of 'Apple' banana transgenic plants using microprojectile bombardment-mediated transformation. The bombardment conditions were optimized and fully transformed banana plants were obtained.

Our banana transformation and regeneration system is different from that patented by Zeneca Inc. entitled, "Method of Genetically Transforming Banana Plants," (International Application No. PCT/US98/14661). First, our system is much more efficient, reliable reproducible, roust, and time-saving, and is also less expensive. Second, we use secondary somatic embryogenesis and they used banana cell suspension approach. Third, we use microprojectile bombardment; they use Agrobacterium mediated technology. Currently, we are using our new system to produce transgenic banana plants resistant to banana bunchy top virus. Because our system is so efficient, it can also be used to produce transgenic banana plants for other goals including engineering resistance to other diseases.

Applications

• Regeneration and transformation of banana plants
• Produce transgenic banana plants for purposes including engineering resistance to other banana diseases

Main Advantages

• Much more efficient with high percentage of germinated embryos for regeneration of banana plants
• Reliable, reproducible, robust, time-saving, and less expensive

Inventor(s)

Dr. John S. Hu
Mr. Said M. Khalil
University of Hawai’i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

Contact Information

For licensing information, please contact Lisa Matsunaga at matsunag@hawaii.edu

For all other inquiries, please write to:

Office of Technology Transfer & Economic Development
University of Hawai’i
2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 280
Honolulu, HI 96822