Production of transgenic Italian ryegrass expressing the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene of zoysiagrass.

Transgenic Italian ryegrass plants expressing the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene of zoysiagrass (ZBD1) were produced via particle bombardment of embryogenic calluses. Although the growth of both non-transgenic and transgenic plants expressing ZBD1 was inhibited under salt stress, isolated tillers of the transgenic plants showed better re-rooting ability in vitro in the presence of 300 mM NaCl. Chlorophyll fluorescence values of the transgenic plants declined under salt stress, but were significantly higher than those of non-transgenic plants under salt stress, indicating the improved salt stress tolerance of transgenic plants.