Development of marker-free insect resistant transgenic okra ( L. Moench) expressing the gene and identification of vector backbone-free events.

-mediated co-transformation method was used to generate marker-free insect resistant transgenic okra plants expressing the gene. The gene was borne on the T-DNA of one plasmid while II and (GUS) marker genes were present on the T-DNA of a second plasmid. Putative transgenic plants were screened by histochemical GUS assay for expression of -glucuronidase and 32 transgenic events were positive for GUS in which 21 transgenic events were positive in ELISA for the presence of Cry1Ac protein.

Efficient genetic transformation of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and generation of insect-resistant transgenic plants expressing the cry1Ac gene.

Agrobacterium -mediated transformation system for okra using embryos was devised and the transgenic Bt plants showed resistance to the target pest, okra shoot, and fruit borer ( Earias vittella ). Okra is an important vegetable crop and progress in genetic improvement via genetic transformation has been impeded by its recalcitrant nature. In this paper, we describe a procedure using embryo explants for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and tissue culture-based plant regeneration for efficient genetic transformation of okra.