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An innovative and efficient genetic transformation protocol for European chestnut is described in which embryogenic cultures are used as the target material. When somatic embryos at the globular or early-torpedo stages were cocultured for 4 days with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbouring the pUbiGUSINT plasmid containing marker genes, a transformation efficiency of 25% was recorded. Murashige and Skoog culture medium containing 150 mg/l of kanamycin was used as the selection medium. The addition of acetosyringone was detrimental to the transformation efficiency. Transformation was confirmed by a histochemical beta-glucuronidase (GUS ) assay, PCR and Southern blot analyses for the uidA (GUS) and nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) genes. At present, 93 GUS-positive chestnut embryogenic lines are being maintained in culture. Low germination rates (6.3%) were recorded for the transformed somatic embryos. The presence of the transferred genes in leaves and shoots derived from the germinated embryos was also verified by the GUS assay and PCR analysis.

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Tortel Commune is located in the SouthWest end of the Aisen Region with a cold and humid oceanic climate. Its vegetation consists of five forest communities (coigüe of Chiloe forest, coigüe of Magallanes forest, coigüe forest and ñire-colihue forest) only the last are deciduous, a shrubby and other subshrubby (stumpy scrub of lenga and high Andean brecillo steppe) and three peatbogs (Sphagnum bog, pulvinate bog and grass bog) that provide habitats for the studied flora. A brief description of each community were made. The woody flora of Tortel consists of 61 species, of which only three are introduced: Populus nigra, Rosa rubiginosa and Salix fragilis. This flora is dominated by shrubs with 28 species and trees with 15 and three can occur as trees or bushes (Nothofagus antarctica, Nothofagus pumilio and Tepualia stipularis). Also includes two lianas (Campsidium valdivianum and Griselinia ruscifolia) and a small tree fern (Blechnum magellanicum). The shapes of the bushes are diverse and include them one bambus bush (Chusquea culeou), one throotle liane (Raukaua laetevirens) and three passive climbers (Lebetanthus myrsinites, Mitraria coccinea and Philesia magellanica). The richest communities in woody species is the coigüe of Chiloe forest and the poorest stunted lenga bush. Finally a parallel key for determining the woody species of the Commune of Tortel that were shown in this paper is presented.