The emerging scientific revolution sparked by genomics based technologies is producing enormous

amounts of DNA sequence information that, together with plant transformation methodology, is
opening up new experimental opportunities for functional genomics analysis.While the rapid
development ofthese technologies identifies more genes, functional analysis relies on strategies
such as complementation, overexpression, or gene silencing. Plant genetic transformation is a
critical technology required in the application of these strategies.In this novel context, efficiency of
transformation protocols should be increased even more and the process optimized. One of the
major quantitative tools to improve plant transformation technologies are: minimizing cost,
maximizing throughput, and efficiency.
To advance these research areas, community resources must be created or strengthened. The
necessity of specialized, new Plant Transformation Facilities around the world is becoming more
relevant every day. Short and long term planning is helping to leverage the sequenced maize
genome and will position maizeas a model for tool development and for hypothesis-driven and
translational research.
Arabidopsis thaliana has been a model for understanding principles behind growth and
development, but some key developmental, cellular, and physiological processes do not occur in
Arabidopsis. Biologically and economically important features such as C4 photosynthesis, a
persistent endosperm, phase dependent epidermal differentiation, complexinflorescence
structure, and sex determination are best studied in maize.
Maize research has made many contributions to our understanding of plant physiology and
development, the regulation of transposable elements and chromosome structure, and the
epigenetic control of gene expression(Timmermans et al., 2004).
Maize ( Zea mays L. ) is one of the three most important cereals worldwide along with wheat and
rice. Argentina is the third largest exporter of corn. Over 600 products used in industries as diverse
as food , pharmaceutical, plastics and textiles , paper and corrugated , and beauty are extracted
from corn. Also the plant has great potential as candidate to express recombinant proteins(Horn
et al., 2004) . Improved maize transformation resources remain one of the highest priorities for
the scientific community. A sequenced maize genome will continue to drive research hypotheses
thatrequire direct testing in transgenic plants. Furthermore, transformation capabilities willbridge
the gap between basic and applied research. To achieve these goals, several critical needs were
identified: an increased capacity for public sector maize transformation, improved transformation
of diverse lines and reduced transformation costs.
Maize productivity should be increased significantly to settle into the future context, and for which
the adoption of improved varieties, new management strategies and new technologies is
necessary. Modern biotechnology optimizes production without the need to increase the planted
area . Transformation systems reported until now, which use the in vitro culture as an
intermediate in the procedure can be optimized in various ways, studying the bottlenecks of the
process. In this case, one of this methods is presented, which is a simply and cheaptechnique for
increasing the efficiency of selection of transgenic cells growing on in vitro culture conditions.


Horn ME, Woodard SL, Howard JA (2004) Plant molecular farming: systems and products. Plant
Cell Reports 22: 711-720
Timmermans MCP, Brutnell TP, Becraft PW (2004) The 46th Annual Maize Genetics Conference.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Maize Genome. Plant Physiology 136: 2633-2640