Stable Transformation of Saintpaulia ionantha by Particle Bombardment

Background: A highly efficient genetic transformation system is essential for a successful genetic manipulation of the African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.). Objectives: Developing a particle bombardment-based genetic transformation system for the African violet. Materials and Methods: A local cultivar of the African violet from Guilan province was used for transformation experiments. The pFF19G and pBin61-Ech42 vectors were used for transient and stable transformation experiments, respectively. The PCR and RT-PCR techniques were used to verify transgene presence and transcript levels in candidate transgenic lines, respectively. Results: Using leaf explants as target tissues, we transferred an endochitinase gene cDNA into African violet. Transgenic plants were regenerated on selection medium at a reasonable frequency (in average, one stable transgenic line per shot). Molecular analysis of transgenic plants by PCR and RT-PCR techniques confirmed successful integration and expression of transgene in several independent transgenic lines. Conclusions: Our results provide an efficient stable transformation system for genetic transformation of African violet.