The fastest and easiest way to transform genes to the pollen of a pear (Rosaceae) variety

Abstract Background To date, the success rate of using pollen as a transgenic vector in agriculture has been very low, especially for fruit trees of the Rosaceae family. Results We selected a widely cultivated pear variety, ‘Wonhuwang’(Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai. cv. Wonhuwang), which can be used to successfully transform genes into mature pollen within 4 min under negative pressure (- 80 Kpa). The pollen morphology of this pear variety is irregular, but its viability is not reduced. Pollen containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene can complete pollination and fertilization, and the GFP gene is expressed in embryos. The greatest advantage of this method is that it does not require fresh pollen, and it can be used to verify gene function. Conclusion This method is the simplest and fastest among reported transgenic methods for transforming genes into pollen.