A Rapid and Simple Method for Brassica Napus Floral-Dip Transformation and Selection of Transgenic Plantlets

The floral-dip method of transformation by immersion of inflorescences in a suspension of Agrobacterium was applied in the Brassica napus transformation, but it involves a number of relatively time-consuming and laborious steps, including manipulating an Agrobacterium tumefaciens culture and aseptic procedures for the selection of plant lines harboring antibiotic-selection markers. It calls for a long time to prepare the buffered media. To circumvent these bottlenecks, we have developed a rapid and simple method. We find that Brassica napus can be transformed by dipping directly into an Agrobacterium tumefaciens culture supplemented with surfactant, eliminating the need for media exchange to a buffered solution. We report a method of transformant selection by soaking seeds with antibiotic. These methods save time and money, and reduce the possibility of contamination.