Table 3.
Comparison of different plant genetic transformation methods.
| Transformation Methods | Tissue Type | Species | Delivery Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agrobacterium | Cells, tissues, and whole plants | Monocot and dicot | DNA | It has high transformation efficiency and stability | It is species and genotype restricted, and random integration may result in gene destruction |
| Particle bombardment | Any intact tissue or explant | Monocot and dicot | DNA, siRNA, miRNA, and RNP | It is not limited by tissues or cell types | The transferred DNA is not protected, the transformation efficiency is lower than with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and the equipment used is costly. High copy numbers and extensive rearrangements of foreign DNA, as well as the integration of multiple copies of the same gene in the genome, often lead to gene silencing |
| Electroporation | Leaf blade, protoplast, meristem, and pollen grain | Green algae, monocot and dicot | DNA, siRNA, miRNA, and protein | It is possible to transform whole cells and tissues. The transformation efficiency depends on the plant’s material | It requires cell wall removal and is limited to an in vitro suspension system. It will cause tissue damage without specificity, and transformed cells have a 50% chance of survival |
| Liposome | Protoplast, callus, and pollen | Dicot | DNA, RNA, and protein | The wrapped nucleic acid can be protected from degradation by nucleases; specific cells as well as various cell types can be targeted. | Its transformation efficiency is low |
| Silicon carbide whisker | Callus and mature embryos | Monocot | DNA | Its operation is simple, and its cost is low | It has a low transformation efficiency, and silicon carbide whiskers are toxic |
| Microinjection | Protoplasts, immature embryos, and pollen | Monocot and dicot | DNA | The method, which is technically simple, may facilitate the transfer of genes to grains that are not easily regenerated from cultured cells | Its transformation efficiency and frequency are low, it takes a long time to complete, it is costly, and it requires trained and certified workers to conduct experiments |
| Pollen tube | Pollen tube | Monocot and dicot | DNA | It does not involve tissue culture or in vitro regeneration | Its transformation efficiency is low, and the transfer of exogenous genes is limited by natural flowering period |