Gene transfer to maize male reproductive structure by particle bombardment of tassel primordia.

Maize (Zea mays L.) tassel primordia were used as a target for particle bombardment, to assess the possibility of introducing foreign DNA into male reproductive structures. Transient expression of the β-glucuronidase gene (GUS) or anthocyanin marker genes (C1 and B-Peru) driven by the CaMV 35S promoter was obtained in tassel primordia 24h after bombardment. Gold particles coated with DNA reached stamen primordia tissues, which eventually form the anthers and pollen. Bombarded tassels were also cultured in vitro and GUS activity was detected in the vascular tissue of mature anthers that developed within 4 weeks. This new approach represents a preliminary step toward pollen mediated transformation.