Green fluorescent protein ( GFP ) gene was expressed transiently in 2-3 d old rice embryos by electroporation with the aid of a specially designed loading net. Under suitable conditions (500 μF capacitance, 300 V/cm Voltage, 100 μg/mL plasmid DNA), the percentage of embryos expressing GFP was up to 35%. The highest electroporation efficiency (40%) was obtained at pH 5.8 of the electroporation buffer. The GFP gene driven by the Ubi promoter produced the highest efficiency. Thus, on the basis of optimizing electroporation conditions, a transformation system has been developed for young embryos in rice. The electroporated 4-6 d old embryos regenerated plantlets under the controlled cultural conditions. Fluorescence microscopic observations indicated that GFP gene expressed in their calli and R0 plantlets.
