Oglevee, Ltd.

The Penn State Research Foundation

Eleanor Stoots

Wendy Oglevee-O'Donovan

Richard N Arteca

Jeannette Arteca

A process for commercially propagating plants by tissue culture in such a way as both to conserve desired plant morphology and to transform the plant with respect to one or more desired genes. The method includes the steps of (a) creating an Agrobacterium vector containing the gene sequence desired to be transferred to the propagated plant, preferably together with a marker gene; (b) taking one or more petiole explants from a mother plant and inoculating them with the Agrobacterium vector; (c) conducting callus formation in the petiole sections in culture, in the dark; and (d) culturing the resulting callus in growth medium containing a benzylamino growth regulator such as benzylaminopurine or, most preferably, benzylaminopurineriboside. Additional optional growth regulators including auxins and cytokinins (indole butyric acid, benzylamine, benzyladenine, benzylaminopurine, alpha naphthylacetic acid and others known in the art) may also be present. Preferably, the petiole tissue is taken from and the Agrobacterium vector contains an antisense gene for ACC synthase or ACC oxidase to prevent ACC synthase or ACC oxidase expression and, in turn, the ethylene formation for which these enzymes are precursors.

Method for the commercial production of transgenic plants

A process for propagating Pelargonium x domesticum varieties by tissue culture propagation of petiole sections taken from a mother plant. In addition to tissue culture propagation steps and growth media constituents which are known in the art, an essential step of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes the conducting of callus formation by initial culturing of the petiole section in the dark. In all embodiments of the invention, however, it is believed that the effectiveness of the present process is attributable at least in part to the presence in the culture medium of a growth regulator selected from the group consisting of amino or benzyl-glucosides and amino- or benzyl-glycosides or any other composition chemically equivalent to the exemplary regulator benzylamino riboside.

In vitro leaf petiole multiplication of pelargoniums

The new cultivar is early flowering and maintains a controlled growth habit. It is also free flowering. It is very heat tolerant, recovers quickly after wet weather conditions and still exhibits a neat mound habit. The bloom color is a bright red on a dark green foliage.

Variety of geranium named `Red Hots`

The new variety `Medallion Dark Red` is characterized by an intense red bloom, a controlled growth habit, rapid basal branching and prolific cuttings for propagation.

Variety of geranium named `Medallion Dark Red `

The new cultivar is characterized by the rich rose pink colored bloom which is very slow to shatter and has strong tolerance to heat. The short internodes and low basal branching results in a variety that is both a good cutting producer and an excellent outdoor garden cultivar.

Growing community of inventors

Connellsville, PA, United States of America

Eleanor Stoots