Stable Transformation of the Saintpaulia ionantha by Particle Bombardment

Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl. (African violet) is one of the most important ornamental plant species of the genus Saintpaulia from Gesneriaceae family. To date many varieties of African violet have been produced with different colors and shapes largely using conven-tional breeding methods. Genetic engineering has proved to be a powerful complementary tool for con-ventional plant breeding. Efficient genetic transforma-tion protocols are essential for successful genetic manipulation and for African violet, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has prove to be successful (1, 2). However, Agrobacterium includes limited host range with relatively low success rate (3). In contrast, particle bombardment has proved to surpass such problems (4). Furthermore, biolistics is independent of using microorganisms as a mean of gene delivery mechanism. Moreover, the method is not based on spe-cial vector requirements; and foreign DNA of any con-formation and size can be delivered into cells (5). 2. Objectives Here, for the first time, we report a reliable biolis-tic-based genetic transformation system for African violet