The cells of Rubia cordifolia var. pratensis were transformed by Agrobactrium tumefaciens strain 11157. Surface-sterilized young leaves and stems of the plants were cocultivated with bacterial suspensions. Crown galls induced from stems were cultured with variation of culturing conditions and compared with untransformed cells. The growth rates and production of anthraquinone pigments of cells were remarkably improved by transformation. Furthermore, hairy roots were induced by inoculation or cocultivation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains.