A system for regeneration and Agrobacferium mediated transformation of
the common figFr'cus caries L. of the cultivar Sultani was developed. Different
combinations of BA and NAA or 2,4-D and kinetin of callus formation from leaf
segment explants. and the best % formation of callus was found to be 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D
and 0.2 mgfL kinetin. Callus produced somatic embryogenesis which differentiated
to plantlets on media containing TDZ in combination with NAA or 2ip.The best
concentrations which produce somatic embryogenesis and differentiated to
plantlets on media were containingSO mgfl 2ip and 7 mg/L TDZ with 0.25 mg/L NAA,
which gave the regeneration efficiencies 83 and 79 of respectively.The callus failed to
induce organogenesis on media containing BA and kinetin. The best concentrations
of growth regulators to produce shoots formation by direct somatic embryogenesis
with leaf explants were on media containing 2 mg/L TDZ and 4 mg/L 2ip, which gave
the regeneration efficiencies (89%).The best results of shoots forming roots was
reached the highest value 95% by using MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/ L
IBA. Leaf explants of in w'tro propagated plants were co-cultivation with
Agrcbacferium cell culture containing the binary plasmid plSV267B which harbor
the gus-intron and bar genes, the results showed that the highest transformation
efficiency was obtained when explants incubated for 30 min. with bacterial
suspension (17.5%). The transgenic nature of regenerated plants was confirmed by
histochemical GUS, leaf painting assay and PCB analysis.
Keywords: Fig (Ficus canoe); Transformation; Callus; Regeneration; GUS; bar,
Agrobacterium fumefaciens