Abstract: A method of transforming conifers with a DNA construct comprising an expression cassette is disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a plant tissue target, the plant tissue target comprised of conifer tissue, the cells of the conifer tissue including cell walls; and then (b) propelling the DNA construct at the plant tissue target at a velocity sufficient to pierce the cell walls and deposit the DNA construct within a cell of the tissue target to thereby provide a transformed plant tissue. Preferably, shoots are then induced to form on the transformed plant tissue. Preferred plants for carrying out the present invention are the members of the genus Pinus.