Transformation in Hordeum vulgare L. (Barley)

Abstract

Genetic transformation of graminaceous plants has been mainly conducted by directly introducing foreign genes into their protoplasts by means of electroporation of polyethylene glycol treatment. In these methods, plant regeneration from protoplasts is a prerequisite for producing transgenic plants. However, the inability of protoplasts of many monocotyledonous plants to regenerate into plants makes it difficult to generalize these methods in a broad range of monocotyledonous species. Therefore, the substitutive method such as a microprojectile bombardment has been developed and applied to direct delivery of foreign genes into monocotyledonous plant materials. Recently the author reported the transient expression of foreign gene introduced into barley coleoptile cells by microinjection and discussed the possible application of coleoptile tissues to a production of transgenic barley (Toyoda et al. 1990; 1992). From this point of view, this chapter describes (1) callus induction and plant regeneration from coleoptile tissues in order to complete a coleoptile system of barley, (2) verification of expression of foreign genes introduced into coleoptile cells and (3) possibility of production of disease-resistant barley. The progress of these investigations would make it possible to produce transgenic plants in a broad range of monocotyledonous species in which protoplast regeneration is difficult.KeywordsPowdery MildewCallus InductionTobacco Mosaic VirusForeign GeneCytoplasmic StreamingThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.