Genetic transformation of Slovak cultivar of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): efficiency and the behavior of the transgene

Transgenic potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) of selected Slovak cultivars (cvs.) and one breeding line were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In vitro-grown plants of cvs. Albina, Eta, Malvina, Vila and line 116/86 were tested for their ability to regenerate transgenic plants. Infection of leaf explants and internodes except of those of cv. Albina resulted in the regeneration of transgenic shoots. Transformation efficiency was genotype dependent. A greater number of transformants was obtained from line 116/86 using leaf disc transformation than was obtained from the reference cultivar Desirere. The activity of GUS transgene was measured in populations of transgenic plants 116/86(GHN) and Desire¿e(GHN). The genotype had no significant influence on GUS transgene expression levels. High transgene copy number resulted in increased variation of transgene expression among plants 116/86(GHN)