Biolistic transformation of cry 1Ac gene in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) M. K. Sidhu 1 , A. S. Dhat 2 , J. S. Sandhu 3 and S. S. Gosal 4 1&2 Department of Vegetable Sciences, 3&4 School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India-141004 Corresponding author: mksidhu@pau.edu Paper No. 256 Received: 16 August, 2014 Accepted: 15 November, 2014 Published: 20 December, 2014 Abstract Among diferent explants, cotyledon showed highest regeneration and number of buds per explant on all media combinations. However, highest regeneration potential was observed on MS fortifed with 3.0 mgl -1 BAP (80.36%), but number of buds per explant were highest (21.76) on MS media supplemented with 2.5 mgl -1 BAP+ 1.0 mgl -1 Kin. Plant regeneration of cotyledons was completely checked with a selection pressure of 15ppm to 25ppm hygromycin for untranformed explants. But the selection efcacy of transformed tissue was 19.56% with 20ppm and 66.66% with 15 ppm hygromycin. GUS gene was expressed in 76.92% bombarded explants with 2 to 7 GUS spots per explant confrming the presence of transformed tissue. GUS gene was also visualized in 66.66% regenerated shoots from bombarded tissue. PCR analysis of putative transgenic eggplant plants with the specifc primers confrmed the presence of Cry1Ac gene with 1.2 KB product size (falling between 1KB and 2KB bands of 10KB DNA ladder) in two of the four plants. Highlights • Cotyledon of genotype BL-5 had highest regeneration potential and number of buds per explant on MS media supplemented with 2.5 mgl -1 BAP+ 1.0 mgl -1 Kin. • Plant regeneration of cotyledons was completely checked with a selection pressure of 15ppm to 25ppm hygromycin for untranformed explants. • The selection efcacy of transformed tissue was 19.56% with 20ppm and 66.66% with 15 ppm hygromycin. • GUS gene was expressed in bombarded explants as well as in regenerated putative transgenic explants. • PCR analysis of putative transgenic eggplant plants with the specifc primers confrmed the presence of Cry1Ac gene. Keywords: Eggplant, regeneration Bt-gene, biolistic gun, transgenic Eggplant (Solanum melongena L., 2n=2x=24) is a widely adaptive and highly productive vegetable crop of tropical and subtropical regions, but shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) is a serious pest that causes 37 to 71% reduction in marketable yield (Singh et al., 2000 and Kaur et al., 2004). To control the pest various biological and biochemical control measures have been recommended, but cryptic nature is a big hindrance in efcient management. Consequently, growers use excessive and unrecommended pesticides, which is a mater of concern for food safety, environmental BIOTECHNOLOGY International Journal of Agriculture, Environment & Biotechnology Citation: IJAEB: 7(4): 679-687 December 2014 DOI Number: 10.5958/2230-732X.2014.01375.8 ©2014 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved