Wheat transformation – an update of recent progress

Genetic transformation is vital to the transfer of novel genes into crop plants as well as to the emerging area of functional genomics. However, the successful genetic transformation of wheat still remains time consuming and genotype dependent. This paper updates the progress made in last 3 years towards developing a robust genetic transformation system for wheat. Agrobacterium-mediated wheat transformation offers advantages such as single-copy gene insertion, minimal rearrangement of DNA, low cost and comparatively high efficiency. The reported recent developments in wheat transformation will lead to increased efficiency of wheat breeding programs. The most promising recent progress is in the development of drought-tolerant wheat, since water stress continues to be a major limiting factor hindering world wheat productivity under adverse hot and dry weather conditions.