Efficient in vitro regeneration system from seed derived callus of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

The commercially important ryegrasses in cool temperate climates throughout the world are annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L). Improvements through conventional breeding have been slow as they are usually heterozygous and highly self-infertile. Hence, there is a need to use modern biotechnological tools to the development of improved rye grass cultivars for incorporating value added traits. Successful transformation of rye grasses has been done using suspension cells, which is time consuming and laborious (Spangenberg et al., 1995, 1998). We report here a rapid and highly efficient in vitro plant regeneration system from seed derived callus in annual and perennial rye grasses.