Peach (Prunus Persica L.)

Until now, the application of genetic transformation techniques in peach has been limited by the difficultiesin developing efficient regeneration and transformation protocols. Here we describe an efficient regenerationprotocol for the commercial micropropagation of GF677 rootstock (Prunus persica × Prunusamygdalus).The method is based on the production, via organogenesis, of meristematic bulk tissues characterizedby a high competence for shoot regeneration.This protocol has also been used to obtain GF677 plants genetically engineered with an empty hairpincassette (hereafter indicated as hp-pBin19), through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation.After 7–8 months of selection on media containing kanamycin, we obtained two genetically modifiedGF677 lines. PCR and Southern blot analyses were performed to confirm the genetic status.