Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Recent advances in plant biotechnology have led to a reliable and reproductive method for genetic transformation of blueberry. These efforts built on previous attempts at transient and stable transformation of blueberry that demonstrated the potential of Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated transformation, and as well, the difficulties of selecting and regenerating transgenic plants. As a prerequisite for successful stable transformation, efficient regeneration systems were required despite many reports on factors controlling shoot regeneration from leaf explants. The A. tumefaciens -mediated transformation protocol described in this chapter is based on combining efficient regeneration methods and the results of A. tumefaciens -mediated transient transformation studies to optimize selected parameters for gene transfer. The protocol has led to successful regeneration of transgenic plants of four commercially important highbush blueberry cultivars.