REGENERATION OF GREEN PLANTS FROM EMBRYOGENIC SUSPENSION-CULTURES OF KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS (POA-PRATENSIS L)

Plants were regenerated from embryogenic suspension cultures of Kentuc ky blue grass (Poa pratensis L.) cv. <<Geronimo>>. Suspension cultures capable of regeneration of green plants were established from embryog enic callus derived from either entire mature seeds or isolated mature embryos. From both donor materials suspensions were established with a frequency of 10%. Green plants were regenerated from two out of 17 i solated-embryo-derived suspension cultures. One of the cultures yielde d exclusively green plants and the other culture gave rise to both gre en and albino plantlets. Out of three seed-derived cultures, two posse ssed regeneration capacity, one of these also regenerating exclusively green plants and one culture regenerating albinos only. The capacity for regeneration of green plants remained constant in the two embryo-d erived suspension cultures for at least 1 year. The number of green pl ants from 200 mg fresh weight suspension cells varied from one in the least responsive culture up to 246 in the most responsive one. More th an 500 green regenerants have been potted in soil and 400 are in the p rocess of field testing. Evaluation of the morphology and fertility of the plants is in progress and the first three plants have undergone s eed setting. This is the first report on regeneration of green plants from embryogenic suspension cultures in Kentucky blue grass.