title: Transformation of alfalfa chloroplasts and expression of green fluorescent protein in a forage crop.
abstract: The ability to transform chloroplasts in multiple species is important for improving agricultural traits. Chloroplast transformation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a useful forage plant with high market value, was achieved using a vector carrying aadA and gfp genes being introduced into the chloroplasts of alfalfa via particle bombardment using leaves and calli as explants. Resistant somatic embryos were generated and developed into plantlets from explants. The transformation efficiency was 1.3% for callus explants and 2.7% for leaf explants. PCR and Southern blotting analyses revealed that the foreign genes were integrated into the transformed chloroplast genome. The occurrence of GFP was further confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. Expression of foreign genes in alfalfa chloroplasts is therefore possible, and provides a novel means for genetic improvement of agronomically important traits and production of value-added proteins.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Centre, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 1363, Caiyu Street, Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China, weizy932@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhengyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yanzhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunjing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yunpeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qin'an
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yingshan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Shaochen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins