Volume 22, Number 6, 403-407, DOI: 10.1007/s00299-003-0706-6

Development of highly regenerable callus lines and biolistic transformation of turf-type common bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]

L. Li and R. Qu

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Abstract

Common bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon, is a widely used warm-season turf and forage species in the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Improvement of bermudagrass via biotechnology depends on improved tissue culture responses, especially in plant regeneration, and a successful scheme to introduce useful transgenes. When the concentration of 6-benzylaminopurine was adjusted in the culture medium, yellowish, compact calluses were observed from young inflorescence tissue culture of var. J1224. Nine long-term, highly regenerable callus lines (including a suspension-cultured line) were subsequently established, of which six were used for biolistic transformation. Five independent transgenic events, with four producing green plants, were obtained following hygromycin B selection from one callus line. Three transgenic events displayed resistance to the herbicide glufosinate, and one of these showed beta-glucuronidase activity since the co-transformation vector used in the experiments contained both the gusA and bar genes.

Keywords  Bermudagrass - Embryogenic - Plant regeneration - Transgenic - Turfgrass

Communicated by P. Ozias-Akins

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