| Abstract: | Three cultivars of M. sativa and one cultivar of O. viciifoliawere evaluated for their response to inoculation with A. rhizogenesstrain A4T (containing pRiA4b). A cultivar-dependent responsewas observed in M. sativa with 94%, 25%, and 4% of infectedstem explants producing transformed roots in the cultivars Vertus,Regen-S, and Rangelander, respectively. In O. viciifolia cv.Hampshire Giant, an explant-dependent response was observedwith 78% and 50% of seedling cotyledon and hypocotyl explantsresponding, respectively. Leaf explants failed to produce transformedroots. Transformed roots showed plagiotropic and negativelygeotropic growth on hormone-free agar MS medium. Productionof transgenic shoots from O. viciifolia root cultures occurredspontaneously. Recovery of transgenic plants from M. salivacv. Rangelander was achieved by transfer of callus (inducedon UM medium containing 2·0mg dm–3 2,4-D and 0·25mg dm–3 kinetin) to MS medium containing 0·5 ingdm–3 BAP and 0·05 mg dm–3 NAA. Cultured rootsof both species synthesized opines (agropine and mannopine).Extensive morphological variation was observed in plants ofM. sativa (clone Al) and O. viciifolia (clone A4Tl) establishedin the glasshouse. DNA sequences homologous to TL-DNA and TR-DNAwere present in root clones and regenerated plants. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, Medicago sativa, Onobrychis viciifolia, transformed roots, transgenic plants |
