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Positive selectable marker genes for routine plant transformation

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Summary

Plant genetic transformation technologies rely upon the selection and recovery of transformed cells. Selectable marker genes used so far have been either antibiotic resistance genes or herbicide tolerance genes. There is a need to apply alternative principles of selection, as more transgenic traits have to be incorporated into a transgenic crop and because of concern that the use of conventional marker genes may pose a threat to humans and the environment. New classes of marker genes are now available, conferring metabolic advantage of the transgenic cells over the non-transformed cells. The new selection systems, as described in this review, are being used with success and superior performance over the traditional marker systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, 400085, Mumbai, India

    Suprasanna Penna

  2. Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Catholic University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium

    László Sági & Rony Swennen

Authors
  1. Suprasanna Penna
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  2. László Sági
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  3. Rony Swennen
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Correspondence to László Sági.

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Penna, S., Sági, L. & Swennen, R. Positive selectable marker genes for routine plant transformation. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant 38, 125–128 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1079/IVP2001272

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/IVP2001272

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