Selectable Markers: Antibiotic and Herbicide Resistance

The low efficiencies of most plant transformation methods necessitate the use of selectable marker genes to identify those cells that successfully integrate and express transferred DNA. Genes conferring resistance to various antibiotics or herbicides are commonly used in laboratory transformation research. They encode proteins that detoxify corresponding selection agents and allow the preferential growth of transformed cells. This chapter describes the application of two selection systems on the transformation of wheat. One is based on the npt II gene and corresponding aminoglycoside antibiotics, the other is based on the bar gene and corresponding glufosinate ammonium herbicides.