THE ROLE OF NICKEL ON SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN SETARIA-ITALICA L. IN-VITRO

Nickel (0.13, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/l) increased the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in leaf base and mesocotyl derived calli of Set aria italica. A lower concentration of nickel in the culture media pro moted long-term maintenance of embryogenic calli that regenerated into plantlets. The plants obtained from embryogenic calli grown on Ni-con taining medium showed tolerance to nickel. The growth of embryogenic c allus was the maximum at 1.5 mg/l as compared to a lower or a higher c oncentration of Ni. Use of nickel may help in the induction of high fr equency somatic embryogenesis in Setaria italica.