Co-transformation of a tropical maize endophytic isolate of Fusarium verticillioides (synonym F. moniliforme) with gusA and nia genes

A tropical endophytic isolate of the fungus Fusarium verticillioides (synonym Fusarium moniliforme) obtained from Zea mays was co-transformed with plasmid pNH24 containing the Fusarium oxysporum nitrate reductase nia gene and plasmid pNOM 102 carrying the Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase gusA gene. Transformation frequency for the nia marker was 75 transformants μg vector DNA and introduction of the gusA gene by co-transformation was 57.2% as indicated by the presence of the GUS phenotype on plates. Southern analyses confirmed the integration of both plasmids into the genome of ten GUS transformants. All co-transformants showed mitotic stability in respect of the GUS phenotype. To assess the potential of transformed endophytic fungi as vectors for introducing desirable characteristics into host tropical plants of biotechnological and agricultural importance we successfully infected maize roots and detected GUS phenotype”.