Plant Tissue Cult. 3(1) : 1-4, 1993

Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis and High Frequency Plantlet Regeneration in Callus Cultures of Baggar Grass (Eulaliopsis binata L.)

Satwant K. Gosal, R.P. Gupta and S.S. Gosal*

Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, India

Key words: Somatic embryogenesis, Plantlet regeneration, Baggar grass, Eulaliopsis binata

Abastract

Embryogenic callus cultures were developed in seven clones of baggar grass (Eulaliopsis binata). Immature inflorescence segments (0.5-1.0 cm) were aseptically cultured on MS supplemented with 2,4-D (2-4 mg/1) and Kn (0.5 mg/1). The best callus induction was observed on MS supplemented with 2,4-D (4 mg/1) + Kn (0.5 mg/1), the range being from 25.9 (BG-1) to 84. 8 per cent (BG-10). The length of inflorescence was critical for callus initiation, the optimal size being 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Elevated level of sucrose (6%) induced slow growing but more nodular calli. In subcultures on MS + 2,4-D (3 mg/1) + Kn (0.5 mg/1), nodular embryogenic regions differentiated on the surface of smooth translucent callus. Following transfer to the basal MS, such nodular calli exhibited a high frequency of regenerants (66.6%) with 14-25 plantlets/culture after four weeks.

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