GROWTH-BEHAVIOR OF SUSPENSION-CULTURES OF RICE AND TRANSIENT EXPRESSION OF ELECTROPORATED GENE IN INTACT-CELLS

Suspension cultures of Indica (Basmati 370 and Improved Sabarmati) and japonica (Taipei 309) rice were established from scutellum-derived callus obtained by culture of the mature seeds. The suspension cultures contain groups of small and cytoplasmically rich cells with a doubling time of 3.6-5.1 days, as measured by increase in packed cell volume. The suspension cells of indica rice var Improved Sabarmati were employed to optimize electroporation-mediated delivery of the plasmid pBI 221 having beta-glucuronidase gene under the control of eukaryotic expression signals. GUS activity was determined both fluorometrically and hisotchemically. Maximum expression was obtained when cells were electroporated at 600 V cm(-1) with capacitance selected at 400 mu F.