M. Ozgen et al., CALLUS INDUCTION AND PLANT-REGENERATION FROM IMMATURE AND MATURE EMBRYOS OF WINTER DURUM-WHEAT GENOTYPES, Plant breeding, 115(6), 1996, pp. 455-458
Seven genotypes of winter durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were cult
ured to establish an efficient method of callus formation and plant re
generation from mature embryo culture, and to compare the responses of
immature and mature embryo cultures. Immature embryos were asepticall
y dissected from seeds and placed, with the scutellum upwards, in dish
es containing Murashige and Skoog's (MS) mineral salts and 2 mg 2,4-di
chlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) per litre. Calli and regenerated plan
ts were maintained on 2,4-D-free medium. Mature embryos were moved sli
ghtly on the imbibed seeds. For callus formation, the seeds with moved
embryos were placed, furrow downwards, in dishes containing 8 mg 2,4-
D per litre. The developed calli and regenerated plants were maintaine
d on the MS medium. Plants regenerated from both embryo cultures were
vernalized and grown to maturity in soil. Variability was observed amo
ng the wheat genotypes tested for various culture responses in both ex
plant cultures. Callus induction rate and regeneration capacity of cal
lus were independent of each other. Mature embryos have a low frequenc
y of callus induction but a high regeneration capacity. Considering av
ailability, rapidity and reliability, this form of mature embryo cultu
re can be used as an alternative method for immature embryo culture.