Indirect shoot organogenesis of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.from stem segments and use of the explants for agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. is an important oil, food and fodder crop for human and animals fodder. Currently, soybean lines genetically modified for improved resistance to herbicides and pests and for reduced linolenic acid content are widely grown. More than 85 % of transgenic soybean plants are obtained using Agrobacterium -mediated transformation method. Developed Agrobacterium -mediated protocols are based on somatic embryogenesis and direct or indirect shoot organogenesis. Cotyledons, cotyledonary nodes, hypocotyl and epicotyl segments, immature or mature embryos serve as explants. Despite the large number of Agrobacterium -mediated protocols, stable transformation of soybeans is still not a routine procedure because it depends on the genotype. Surprisingly, the data on the use of soybean stem segments in genetic transformation is practically absent, although stem segments widely and efficiently serve as explants in the production of most transgenic monocotyledonous plants...