Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Musa acuminata cv. “Grand Nain” scalps by vacuum infiltration

Two Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation protocols were evaluated for the generation of transgenic banana tissues (Musa acuminata var. Grand Nain). Co-cultivation versus vacuum infiltration of meristematic banana tissues was compared. The binary vector pC2301 was used for the initial transformation and the histochemical detection of GUS. PCR assays demonstrated that the transformation protocol was successful. Infiltrated samples transformed with pCambia 2301 showed a wider GUS response than the co-cultivated tissues. The specific β-glucuronidase activity was also higher in the infiltrated tissues than in co-cultivated ones and was also comparable to that found in other work. The vector BIBAC2 (bearing a 50 kb insert of foreign gDNA) was also transformed with these protocols showing the potential of this procedure on future genomics for this cultivar.