Biolistic mediated transformation and transient -1, 3 glucuronidase expression in indicarice variety mangala

An efficient and reproducible biolistic method of transformation has been standardized for the induction of embryogenic calli from local Indica rice variety mangala. The plasmid pABC containing β-1,3 glucuronidase and npt II gene was introduced into mangala calli using gene gun. The putatively transformed calli was confirmed by gus assay and counting the number of blue spots. The DNA was isolated and gene integration was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction of nptII gene with specific primers. The amplification produced an amplicon size of 800bp in the putatively transformed gus positive calli of mangala. The transformation efficiency was highest (45.6%) at target cell distance of 9 cm with less damage to tissues and lowest (31.67%) at target distance of 6 cm with more damage to tissues.