Stable transformation and long-term expression of the gusA reporter gene in callus lines of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Stable transformation of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was achieved by biolistic bombardment of a non embryogenic cell suspension culture, using the hpt and gusA gene. The transformation yielded on the average 5 callus lines per bombardment (1.4×10⁶ cells). Stable integration of the genes into the plant genome was demonstrated by Southern analysis of DNA, isolated from hygromycin-resistant callus lines. The gusA reporter gene, which was regulated by the constitutive promoter of the rice gene GOS2, was expressed in both transient and stable transformation assays, indicating that this promoter is suitable for expression of a transferred gene in perennial ryegrass. Long-term GUS expression was observed in ca. 40% of the callus lines, whereas the other callus lines showed instability after 6 months and 1 year of culture.