EMBRYOGENESIS AND ORGANOGENESIS IN CULTURED ANTHERS OF AN OIL YIELDING CROP NIGER (GUIZOTIA-ABYSSINICA CASS)

Anthers of niger (Guizotia abyssinica. Cass) were inoculated onto five different media differing mainly in their inorganic and organic const ituents and plant growth regulators to study their influence on callus induction (embryogenic/non-embryogenic) and plant regeneration. LS me dium supplemented with 2 mg 1(-1) 2,4-D, and 0.3 mg 1(-1) KN favoured the production of EC, whereas 2 mg 1(-1) BAP and 0.5 mg 1(-1) KN promo ted the NEC from anthers. Different types of embryos were initiated up on transfer of EC to Chaleff's R-2 medium containing 2 mg 1(-1) NAA an d 0.3 mg 1(-1) KN and/or 5 mg 1(-1) ABA. NEC when transferred onto the medium supplemented with 1 mg 1(-1) BAP and 0.1 mg 1(-1) NAA produced on an average 8-12 shoots/callus mass. Embryoids developed from the E C and shoots differentiated from NEC when cultured onto the Chaleff's R-2 and MS media respectively lacking growth regulators, they transfor med into whole plantlets. The plantlets thus obtained were successfull y hardened and grown to maturity for analysis of various plant charact ers.