PHOSPHINOTHRICIN- AND CROWN GALL-RESISTANT TRANSGENIC PLANTS OF GRAPEVINE

A method for direct shoot regeneration from grapevine leaves was developed.
Using this method, transgenic plants (cvs.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Podarok Magaracha, Rubinovyj Magaracha, Krona 42), carrying the bar gene for resistance to herbicide phosphinothricin (Basta), were recovered.
The transgenic nature of herbicide resistant plants was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis.
After transfer to soil, the hebicide resistant plants were not inhibited at Basta concentrations of up to 10 ml L^-1, while leaves of control plants turned yellow and died at 3 ml L^-1 Basta.
In additional experiments, plants were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying both the bar gene and a fragment of RSF 1010 plasmid with the ita locus of antitumorigenic activity.
The resulting herbicide resistant plants were inoculated in vitro with pathogenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains.
Plants that did not develop crown galls were then clonally propagated in vitro and studied for their resistance to crown gall disease in vivo.
Two of the three tested plants of cv.
Podarok Magaracha from independent transformation events did not develop any crown galls, and they are now being propagated for further evaluation of their resistance to crown gall disease under field conditions.
At this stage, the plants survived two winters with no signs of crown gall development.