Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part I (2024)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (SAAT) and Agro-injection techniques in improving genetic transformation efficiency in soybean (Glycine max). The experiment assessed the effects of sonication intervals, acetosyringone concentrations, and Agrobacterium optical densities on plant survival, pod development, and seed germination across four soybean genotypes: PDKV Amba, Swarna Vasundhara, PDKV Yellow Gold, and JS 335. Results showed that the control treatment (T1) exhibited the highest germination percentages across all genotypes, with PDKV Amba at 88%, Swarna Vasundhara at 82.89%, and PDKV Yellow Gold at 82.89%. As sonication time increased, germination declined, with the 45-second treatment (T4) showing the lowest rates, particularly in Suvarna Vasundhara (43.29%). The optimal Agrobacterium optical density for plant survival was 0.5 OD, with survival rates of 48% at the seed radicle stage and 47% at the pod stage. Acetosyringone concentrations of 100 µM resulted in the highest transformation efficiency across all stages, with 44% at the seed radicle stage, 40% at the flower stage, and 47% at the pod stage. Among the genotypes, JS 335 showed the highest pod-bearing rate (63%) and germination percentage (79.68%). This study provides valuable insights into optimizing transformation protocols for stable transgene integration in soybean, with implications for enhancing crop improvement through genetic engineering.