PROTEIN-CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH PLANT-REGENERATION IN EMBRYOGENIC CALLI OF SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SP.)

Plant regeneration from cultured immature inflorescence segments (3-5 mm) of sugarcane (Saccharum sp) var. CP 5243 was obtained via somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus culture was initiated on MS medium s upplemented with 2,4-D (13.5 mu M) over 30 days. The callus was subcul tured every 15-20 days on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (4.5 mu M) , arginine (50 mg 1(-1)) and proline (500 mg 1(-1)). The callus was su bjected to five treatments: 2,4-D (4.5 mu M), Picloram (8.2 mu M) and Dicamba (22.6 mu M). SPC was determined at the beginning, after 20 day s in culture, and every 24 hours thereafter up to 72 hours. SDS-PAGE e lectrophoresis was performed based on soluble protein content. Some di fferences were found between SPC and bands (intensity and number) for all treatments associated with shoot formation. The results point out the association of soluble protein content and callus regenerative abi lity of sugarcane cv. CP5243 and suggest the presence of a marker prot ein (between 55-70 kDa) for embryogenic callus regeneration ability in this cultivar.