Transformation of the mycorrhizal basidiomycetes, Suillus grevillei and S. bovinus, by particle bombardment.

Mycorrhizal basidiomycetes, Suillus grevillei and S. bovinus, were transformed by particle bombardment. We isolated eight and four transformants from S. grevillei and S. bovinus respectively under three conditions differing in terms of target distance and helium pressure. The transformation frequencies were 1.2 and 0.6 transformants/microg DNA. Plasmid DNAs were integrated into the genomic DNA of the transformants and stably maintained. This is the first description of the transformation of S. grevillei and S. bovinus by particle bombardment.