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A reproducible genetic transformation protocol is needed for the genetic improvement of grass pea through gene technology. Ethiopian crops, owing to their rich variability, were riding the classical breeding bicycle and never started the genomics era for long. As a prelude to this era, an Agrobacterium-mediated transient genetic transformation of Ethiopian grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genotypes obtained from the areas that were hit by sever incidence of lathyrism was achieved for the first time using cotyledonary node explants from in vitro grown lathyrus seedlings. This is a molecular spark; a result which has shone light for the beginning of molecular era for grass pea and other Ethiopian crops. This work adds a positive spin to future research efforts and motivates young researchers working on grass pea and other legumes genetic improvement through gene technology.
About the author
Dejene Girma Kebede, BSc degree in Plant Sciences from Alemaya University (Ethiopia), MSc degree in Molecular Biotechnology, and Postgraduate Certificate in Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology from Gent University (Belgium). At present, he is research staff of the crop biotechnology section at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research.
