INTRODUCING EXOGENOUS DNA INTO PLANTS AFTER POLLINATION——DNA TRAVERSE PATHWAY OF POLLEN TUBE TO REACH EMBRYONIC SAC

Abstract

The technique of introducing exogenous DNA into plants through the pathway of pollen tube after pollination has been applied since 1978 for transformation of the egg, zygote or carly embryonic cells. By introducing the erogenous DNA containing the goal gene(s) into cotton and rice, several new varieties with economic value and genetic stability are obtained. Thus molecular breeding of crops can be realized by this biotechnique. The pollen tube pathway is demonstrated by tritium-labelled cotton DNA (> 50kb). The labelled DNA is injected into cotton ovaries from the center of the top 24 h after selfing. 30 min to 8 h later, the ovaries are removed. It is clearly shown that the exogenous DNA can only pass from the micrnphyle to the opened nucellus, and then reach the embryonic sac.  3H-DNA can be found in the embryonic sacs 30 min after injection. In more than 80％ of the embryonic sacs 3H-DNA can be seen between 2 and 4 h after injection. No ~3H-DNA is found inside the pollen tubes. Therefore it is not through the pollen tube that DNA is carried into the embryonic sac. It is pathway of the pollen tube through which the DNA passed.