Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2004: 6(2): 11-15

Expression of green fluorescent protein gene in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) tissues

Puchooa, D

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius.

Green-fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression was observed in tissues of litchi (Litchi chinensis) after transformation using Agrobacterium. In vitro grown leaf tissues were used for transformation. After four weeks in culture, expression of GFP was apparent when the regenerated callus and the leaves were observed under fluorescence microscope fitted with a blue exciter filter, a blue dichroic mirror and a barrier filter. Although no transformed litchi plantlets were regenerated, screening for GFP gene expression may prove useful to improve transformation efficiency and to facilitate detection of transformed litchi plants.