Core Laboratories
Plant Transformation Core

Director: Mechthild Tegeder

Manager: Nathan Tarlyn; ntarlyn@wsu.edu 335-5273

Summary

The Plant Transformation Core laboratory provides state-of-the-art facilities and technical support for plant researchers at WSU to conduct plant tissue culture and transformation experiments. As part of the Center for Integrated Biotechnology, the Core facility performs gene transfer experiments, helps maintaining plant cultures and assists in the development of new plant culture and transformation protocols for investigators. All equipment and facilities needed for plant tissue culture and transformation are provided.

Services
1) Provide technical support and facilities for plant tissue culture and plant transformation experiments.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols have been established or are currently being developed for the following plant species:
- tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum)
- tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum)
- chickpea (Cicer arietinum)
- pea (Pisum sativum)
- canola (Brassica napus)
- potato (Solanum tuberosum)

2) Assist to refine existing and develop new plant transformation or tissue culture techniques specific for research needs of investigators.

3) Provide basic training to students and researchers in aseptic tissue culture and propagations techniques as well as in plant transformations.

User fees and costs

• There are no fees for use of the facilities and technical service
• Users need to cover costs for expendable material only (e.g. Petri dishes, agar, media, antibiotics etc.).
  

Resources
1) The Plant Transformation Core facility located in Plant Bioscience I (PBS1, room 119) provides investigators with all equipment and facilities needed for plant tissue culture and transformation:

• apparatus required for media preparation (balances, stirring plates, pH-meter etc.)
• laminar-flow hoods, incubators, orbital shakers and other equipment for establishing axenic plant tissue cultures and performing transformation experiments.
• Environmentally-controlled chambers for growing plant cultures under sterile conditions.

2). We also provide access to the BioRad PDS-1000 gene gun for particle bombardment-mediated plant transformation located in Heald Hall 301H.

To arrange a tour of the facilities, or to discuss your projects and needs, please contact Nathan Tarlyn either by phone, 335-5273 or email: ntarlyn@wsu.edu