HAIRY ROOT TRANSFORMATION SYSTEM IN LARGE-SEEDED GRAIN LEGUMES

Abstract

Hairy roots were produced on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants by inoculation with Agrobacterium root-inducing strains. Examination of 14 plant genotypes and eight Agrobacterium strains in all possible combinations revealed specific strain/genotype interactions. Hairy root size and morphology differed substantially between faba bean and chickpea hairy roots. Sixty percent of chickpea hairy roots were 10–15 mm in length and forty percent, 15–25 mm. All were <1.0 mm in thickness. Sixty-three percent of faba bean hairy roots were 15–25 mm long and thirty-seven percent, 25–40 mm. All faba bean hairy roots were between 1.0 and 1.5 mm in thickness.