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Comparative analysis of transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment

  • Genetic Transformation and Hybridization
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Abstract

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment are the two most widely used methods for genetically modifying grasses. Here, these two systems are compared for transformation efficiency, transgene integration and transgene expression when used to transform tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The bar gene was used as a selectable marker and selection during tissue culture was performed using 2 mg/l bialaphos in both callus induction and regeneration media. Average transformation efficiency across the four callus lines used in the experiments was 10.5% for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and 11.5% for particle bombardment. Similar transgene integration patterns and co-integration frequencies of bar and uidA were observed in both gene transfer systems. However, while GUS activity was detected in leaves of 53% of the Agrobacterium transformed lines, only 20% of the bombarded lines showed GUS activity. Thus, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation appears to be the preferred method for producing transgenic tall fescue plants.

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Abbreviations

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid

uidA :

β-Glucuronidase

bar :

Phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene

gapdh :

Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Steve Johnson for critical reading and editing of the paper (DLF International Seeds Inc.). Also, we are grateful to Gitte Gadegaard (DLF-Trifolium Ltd., Research Division) for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Division, DLF-Trifolium Ltd, Hoejerupvej 31, 4660, Store Heddinge, Denmark

    Caixia Gao, Ingo Lenk & Klaus Kristian Nielsen

  2. College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, 730070, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Danfeng Long

Authors
  1. Caixia Gao
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  2. Danfeng Long
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  3. Ingo Lenk
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  4. Klaus Kristian Nielsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caixia Gao.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Lakshmanan.

Caixia Gao and Danfeng Long have contributed equally to the work.

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Gao, C., Long, D., Lenk, I. et al. Comparative analysis of transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment. Plant Cell Rep 27, 1601–1609 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-008-0578-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-008-0578-x

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