Protoplast isolation, transient transformation of leaf mesophyll protoplasts and improved Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc infiltration of Phaseolus vulgaris: tools for rapid gene expression analysis.

We present simple and efficient methodologies for protoplast isolation from multiple P. vulgaris tissues. We also provide a high-efficiency and amenable method for leaf mesophyll transformation for rapid gene functional characterization studies. Furthermore, a modified SAAT leaf disc infiltration approach aids in validating genes and their functions. Together, these methods help to rapidly unravel novel gene functions and are promising tools for P. vulgaris research.