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A simple and inexpensive system for the generation of fertile, transgenic maize plants has been developed. Cells from embryogenic maize suspension cultures were transformed using silicon carbide whiskers to deliver plasmid DNA carrying the bacterial bar and uidA (gus) genes. Transformed cells were selected on medium containing the herbicide bialaphos. Integration of the bar gene and activity of the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) were confirmed in all bialaphos‐resistant callus lines analysed. Fertile transgenic maize plants were regenerated. Herbicide spraying of progeny plants revealed that the bar gene was transmitted in a Mendelian fashion.