A very efficient transformation system, using biolistic bombardment, has been developed for the production of transgenic plants
of Kentucky bluegrass (
Poa pratensis L.). Embryogenic calli, initiated from immature embryos, were transformed either with pAct1IHPT-4 containing the hygromycin
phosphotransferase (
hpt) gene or with pDM803 containing the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (
bar) gene and the
β-glucuronidase (
uidA) gene. In total 119 independent transgenic plants were recovered from 153 hygromycin-resistant lines. Bialaphos selection
yielded a total of 99 bialaphos-resistant lines and from these 34 independent transgenic plants were recovered. Southern blot
analysis demonstrated the independent nature of the transgenic plants and also revealed a complex transgene integration pattern
with multiple insertions.
Key words
Poa pratensis L. - Grass - Biolistic bombardment - Embryogenic callus - Tissue culture
Communicated by H. Lörz
The first two author contributed equally to this work