Transformation of sugarcane protoplasts by direct uptake of a selectable chimaeric gene

Abstract
Sugarcane protoplasts were transformed to kanamycin resistance at a frequency of approximately 8 in 107 following PEG-induced uptake of Sma1 linearised pABD1 plasmid. DNA-treated protoplasts were cultured in agarose droplets, and protoplast-derived transformants selected on 80 μg ml−1 kanamycin. Transformed tissues maintained on this level of antibiotic expressed APH(3′)II activity, and contained DNA that hybridised to a probe with the APH(3′)II gene.