Regeneration and Transformation of Common Bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.)

An efficient protocol of common bean transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens is still unavailable. Several regeneration reports are available using cotyledonary node or embryonic axis as the starting explants. These explants were used for direct organogenesis exploiting the meristems for direct shoot production. Attempts were made to transform cotyledonary node explants and embryonic axes explants through Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer. Cotyledonary node and embryonic axis explants were prepared from 5 day germinated seedlings and inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 101. Cotyledonary node and embryonic axes explants did not yield any GUS positive shoots after culturing on selection media. Transient GUS expression studies suggest that for these explants lack of Agrobacterium infection in the meristematic region might be the reason for non-production of transgenic shoots/plants.