Genetic transformation was carried out by using biolistic gun method. The hypocotyl derived embryogenic calli (explants) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. Cocker-312 were transformed with a recombinant pGreen II plasmid, in which both, bar (selection marker) and GUS (${\beta}$-glucuronidase) reporter genes were incorporated. Explants were arranged on osmoticum-containing medium (0.5M mannitol) 4 hours prior to and 16 hours after bombardment that was resulted into an increase about >80% for GUS stable expression. 3 days after bombardment, GUS assay was performed, which exhibited, $18.36{\pm}1.00$ calli showed blue spots. The transformed embryogenic calli were cultured on selection medium (@ 6 mg/L basta) for 3 months. The putative transgenic plants were developed via selective somatic embryogenesis (@1.50 mg/L basta); maximum $27.58{\pm}1.25$ somatic embryos were obtained while $17.47{\pm}1.00$ embryos developed into plantlets (@ 0.75mg/L basta). In five independent experiments, up to 7.24% transformation efficiency was recorded. The presence of the transgenes was analyzed by using PCR and southern hybridization analysis. The transgenic plants were developed with in 6-7 months, but mostly transformants were abnormal in morphology.

We investigated chemical-wounding effect on Agrobacterium-mediated Chinese cabbage transformation via vacuum infiltration. Pre-germinated or germinating Chinese cabbage seeds were infiltrated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 cells carrying either GUS gene (pBI121) or hepatitis B virus surface antigen DNA (pBIHBsAg). Prior to agroinfiltration process, the seeds were soaked in sodium hydrosulfite (SHS) solution or just in sterile water as a control. Comparative transformation efficiency was determined by both of histochemistry and ELISA. We could demonstrate that SHS solution treatment especially to 1-day or 2-days old germinating seeds efficiently improved transformation process, and therefore, transient expression level. This strongly indicated that Agrobacterium infection could be facilitated indeed by SHS-causing wounds on Chinese cabbage seeds.

Five day old cotyledon explants of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) cv Poinsett 76 were cocultivated with two Agrobacterium strains (EHA105 and LBA 4404) each carrying GUS as the reporter gene and npt-II as the selection marker gene in the T-DNA region of the vector. Transformed shoots were selected at 150 mg/L kanamycin. A two day cocultivation coupled with $20\;{\mu}M$ acetosyringone increased the frequency (8.2 and 15.4 shoots) of GUS expression in the shoots of transformed plant. Among the two Agrobacterium strains, EHA 105 performed better than LBA 4404 in bringing two-fold increase in transformation efficiency (14%) than LBA 4404 (7.4%). PCR analysis was done to confirm the integration of T-DNA into cucumber genome.

Slices of embryonic axis of mature pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Green Arrow) seeds were used as explant. Transformation of explants was done via Agrobacterium tumefaciens bearing vector pBI-P5CS construct. The best results for inoculation of explants were obtained when they were immersed for 90 s at a concentration of $6{\times}10^8$ cell $ml^(-1)$ of bacterial suspension. Transformed pea plants were selected on $50\;mg\;l^(-1)$ kanamycin and successful transformants were confirmed by PCR and blotting. Transgenic plants were further analyzed with RT-PCR to confirm the expression of P5CS. Transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants were treated with different concentrations of NaCl 0 (control), 100, 150 and 200 mM in culture medium. Measurement of proline content indicated that transgenic plants produced more amino acid proline in response to salt in comparison with non-transgenic plants. Photosynthetic efficiency in transgenic plants under salt-stress was more than that of non-transgenic plants.

Factors affecting regeneration of different Rubus varieties (blackberry, raspberry and their hybrid) were examined and a reliable regeneration system was established. Media for stock plant maintenance were tested; different explants and media were investigated to find the best circumstances for the regeneration. The effect of the commonly used antibiotics was studied to determine the most suitable one for selection of the transformants. We found that both MS and LS media supplemented by $20\;gL^{-1}$ sucrose are suitable for the stock plant maintenance. The optimal hormone content for the stock plants is $0.125\;mgL^{-1}$ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with $0.01\;mgL^{-1}$ indole-3- butyric acid (IBA). The highest regeneration rate was observed on medium containing MS salts with B5 vitamins complemented with glucose, sucrose, maltose, $10\;gL^{-1}$ each, supplemented with benzylaminopurine riboside (BAR) ($2\;mgL^{-1}$) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ($0.1\;mgL^{-1}$). The regenerated shoots appeared directly from the cut edges, without callus phase. Hygromycin and geneticin proved to be good selection agents for the Rubus explants, but due to their severe effect on the tissues we propose to use marker-free constructions for the transformation.

An efficient, rapid and large-scale in vitro clonal propagation of agronomically important Indian cereal crop genotypes (NSH27 & K5) of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. by enhanced shoot proliferation in shoot tip segments was designed. MS medium fortified with plant growth regulators and coconut water markedly influenced in vitro propagation of Sorghum bicolor. In vitro plantlet production system has been investigated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with the synergistic combination of 6-benzyladenine ($22.2\;{\mu}M$), kinetin ($4.6\;{\mu}M$), adenine sulphate ($2.8\;{\mu}M$), 5% coconut water and 3% sucrose which promoted the maximum number of shoots as well as beneficial shoot length. Subculturing of shoot tip segments on a similar medium enabled continuous production of more than 100 healthy shoots with similar frequency. When the healthy shoot clumps were cultured on MS medium fortified with 6-benzyladenine ($22.2\;{\mu}M$), kinetin ($4.6\;{\mu}M$), adenine sulphate ($2.8\;{\mu}M$), ${\alpha}$-naphthaleneacetic acid ($2.7\;{\mu}M$), ascorbic acid ($30.0\;{\mu}M$) and 5% coconut water, a rapid production of axillary and adventitious buds was developed after 8 wk culture. More than 300 shoots were produced 10 wk after culture. Rooting was highest (100%) on half strength MS medium containing 22.8 mM IAA. Micropropagated plants established in garden soil, farmyard soil and sand (2:1:1) were uniform and identical to the donor plant with respect to growth characteristics. These plants grew normally without showing any traits.

Indian citrus ringspot virus (ICRSV)-free plants of Kinnow mandarin (Citrus nobilis Lour x C. deliciosa Tenora) were raised from virus-infected plants using unfertilised ovules as explants. Plants were tested by indirect ELISA and RT-PCR before using their explant. An amplified product of 539 bp was obtained by RT- PCR in ICRSV infected plants. Unfertilized ovules were excised from unopened flower buds of plants tested postive for virus and were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of kinetin (KN) or malt extract (ME). Maximum induction (31.94%) of embryogenic callus was observed on MS medium supplemented with KN ($9.29\;{\mu}M$). Transfer of embryogenic calli to similar media composition resulted in somatic embryogenesis in all cultures, with an average number of 60.36 globular, 17.39 heart and 7.71 cotyledonary-shaped somatic embryos per culture. All cotyledonary shaped embryos developed into complete plantlets within 60 days on transfer to similar medium. Embryogenic callus induction, somatic embryo formation, maturation, germination and plantlet formation were achieved on MS medium supplemented with KN ($9.29\;{\mu}M$) alone. The plantlets derived from somatic embryos were transferred to sterilized soil, sand and vermiculite (3:1:1) mixture. After acclimatization, the plantlets were transferred to screen house and were indexed for ICRSV employing indirect ELISA and RT-PCR and found free of virus. A distinct feature of this study is the induction of somatic embryogenesis from unfertilised ovules to produce virus-free plants.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were regenerated via organogenesis from mature embryonic axes, cultured on MS medium supplemented with ildole-3-ecetic acid (IAA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) for one week in the dark. Embryonic axillary regions were excised, longitudinally cut to split the both sides, and cultured for two weeks on MS medium supplemented with IAA and TDZ. The combination 0.5 mg $l^{-1}$ TDZ/0.5 mg $l^{-1}$ IAA presented the higher efficiency in shoot regeneration and the combination 0.5 mg $l^{-1}$ TDZ/0.25 mg $l^{-1}$ IAA presented the higher efficiency in conversion of shoots to plants. Regenerating explants were transferred to MS medium containing 1 mg $l^{-1}$ BAP for shoot development. All elongated shoots were rooted in vitro, presented normal phenotype and produced viable seeds. Histological analysis confirmed the mode of regeneration as de novo shoot organogenesis.