Abstract
An efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method has been developed and optimized for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The aim of this study is to optimize the conditions for agrobacterial transformation of upland switchgrass cultivars Alamo, Forestburg, Pathfinder, Shawnee, and Trailblazer. For genetic transformation, the authors have used embryogenic calli of switchgrass cultivars. As a result of the study the effect of the virulence gene inducer, surfactant, optical density of bacterial suspension and co-cultivation time, it has been revealed that the presence of acetosyringone with silwet-L77 in the medium, bacterial suspension at an optical density of 0.6 and 8 days of co-cultivation with bacteria is optimal for Agrobacterium– mediated transformation of embryogenic calli of switchgrass. The results obtained can serve as a basis for the creation of transgenic plants of switchgrass.