INTRODUCTION OF HYGROMYCIN RESISTANCE IN LOTUS SPP THROUGH AGROBACTERIUM-RHIZOGENES TRANSFORMATION

The species Lotus corniculatus and L. tenuis were transformed with an Agrobacterium rhizogenes binary vector, conferring resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Transgenic plants recovered from both species were tested for the ability of leaf-derived calluses to grow in a hygromycin-supplemented medium. Molecular analysis showed the integration of the RiT-DNA and of the gene for hygromycin resistance, with a high frequency of co-transformation. Progeny analysis of the hygromycin resistance indicated this to be a single Mendelian trait in test plants. The transformed plants will be utilized in somatic hybridization experiments with lucerne for producing non-bloating genotypes with condensed tannins in leaves.