Embryogenic cell suspensions from different explants and cultivars of Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees

The aim of this work was the establishment of embryogenic calli and cell su spensions from different explants and cultivars of weeping lovegrass, Eragr ostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees, to be used as targets for biolistic transform ation. Calli were initiated from immature inflorescences, seeds, embryos, leaf bas es and root tips. Modified MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) was used f or calli induction and proliferation. Cell suspensions were established and maintained in AAF medium (Wang et al., 1993). Morphogenic calli, embryogen ic cell suspensions of moderate growth rate - consisting mainly of compact proembryogenic cell clusters- and green plants were obtained from all the e xplants and cultivars assayed, except root tips. Both, explant and genotype were very important factors to be considered in order to obtain a morphogenic response and to establish cell suspensions fr om this grass. The statistical analysis detected interaction between both f actors, explants and genotypes. Immature inflorescences were the best sourc e of explant and Kromdraai was the cultivar that showed the best morphogeni c response (expressed as the percentage of calli/ explant and the percentag e of calli with green spots -every green spot developed into green plants-) with inflorescences, embryos and leaf bases. For Morpa and Don Pablo embry os as explants were less responsive than seeds and leaf bases. There were n o differences in leaf bases for all the three cultivars analysed.