Publication Date
1985
Description
Major advances in the cellular and molecular biology of plants recently have created new opportunities for the application of the many novel methods of biotechnology to the genetic modification and improvement of crop plants. The techniques of plant cell culture, particularly those allowing the regeneration of plants from single cells, play an important and integral role in the various strategies currently being pursued for plant improvement by unconventional means. In the past, initiation and maintenance of, as well as plant regeneration from, tissue cultures of species of the Gramineae (Poaceae) proved to be difficult. Nevertheless, cultures capable of plant regeneration can now be obtained from meristematic tissues excised from immature organs of most of the major species of cereals and other grasses. In a majority of these cases plant regeneration takes place by the formation of somatic embryos which, like their zygotic counterparts, arise from single cells. Large clonal populations of plants can be produced rapidly in culture. This can be very useful in those cases where vegetative propagation is necessary. Other developments leading to the regeneration of plants from single cells and protoplasts now also make it possible to attempt (i) isolation of mutant cell lines/plants that are resistant /tolerant to herbicides, salt, drought, diseases and other stresses, (ii) somatic hydridization by protoplast fusion to obtain unique hybrids, (iii) transfer of specific genes from other plants/organisms to grasses by genetic transformation, etc. The application of biotechnology in the genetic modification and improvement of forage grasses, though currently in its inception, holds much promise for the future.
Citation
Vasil, Indra K., "Biotechnology in the Improvement of Forage Crops" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 6.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/openingspeeches/6)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Biotechnology in the Improvement of Forage Crops
Major advances in the cellular and molecular biology of plants recently have created new opportunities for the application of the many novel methods of biotechnology to the genetic modification and improvement of crop plants. The techniques of plant cell culture, particularly those allowing the regeneration of plants from single cells, play an important and integral role in the various strategies currently being pursued for plant improvement by unconventional means. In the past, initiation and maintenance of, as well as plant regeneration from, tissue cultures of species of the Gramineae (Poaceae) proved to be difficult. Nevertheless, cultures capable of plant regeneration can now be obtained from meristematic tissues excised from immature organs of most of the major species of cereals and other grasses. In a majority of these cases plant regeneration takes place by the formation of somatic embryos which, like their zygotic counterparts, arise from single cells. Large clonal populations of plants can be produced rapidly in culture. This can be very useful in those cases where vegetative propagation is necessary. Other developments leading to the regeneration of plants from single cells and protoplasts now also make it possible to attempt (i) isolation of mutant cell lines/plants that are resistant /tolerant to herbicides, salt, drought, diseases and other stresses, (ii) somatic hydridization by protoplast fusion to obtain unique hybrids, (iii) transfer of specific genes from other plants/organisms to grasses by genetic transformation, etc. The application of biotechnology in the genetic modification and improvement of forage grasses, though currently in its inception, holds much promise for the future.
