Abstract: Astragalus cicer is a fine legume forage. 15kD zein is a sulphur-rich protein, of which sulphur-containing amino acid amounts to 15.63% of the total amino acids. The chimeric plasmid of 15kD zein gene regulated by rbcS promoter was introduced into Astragalus citer by Agrobacterium mediated, and transformed plants have been obtained. NPT Ⅱ enzyme activity had been demonstrated in the kanamycin-resistant plantlets. The data from Southern blot indicated that the 15kD zein gene had been integrated into the chromosomal genome of Astragalus cicer.

Key words: 15kD zein, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Transformation, Astragalus cicer