Transformation of pod borer tolerant pigeonpea

Attempts were made during present investigation to modify protocol for transformation in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.). Cotyledonary node explants were taken from 15 days old seedlings of Asha and Maruti genotypes of pigeon pea. Those were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium (strain LBA4404) harbouring pCAMBIA 1305.1 containing cry1Ac, gus and hpt genes as reporter and selectable marker respectively. Presence of 0.02 per cent Triton x 100 in Agrobacterium suspension showed maximum transformations (24.1%). Acetosyringone (100 μM) was found suitable, with 25.05 per cent putative transformants. In addition, vacuum infiltration for 20 minutes increased the recovery of putative transformants to 32.87%. Putative transformants were further tested for the presence of transgene using hpt and cry1Ac specific primers. Out of the 405 plants tested, only three were positive for the expression when tested using Bt expression strips