Plant regeneration of creeping bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. Stoloniferum (Nash) J. Wipff) via somatic embryogenesis

Creeping bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. stoloniferum (Nash) J. Wipff) embryogenic callus growing on solid medium was used to, es tablish a cell suspension culture in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l(-1) (6.8 muM) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D), 0.2 mg l(-1) (0.88 muM) 6-benzylaminopurine (RA), 0-5 mg l(-1) (1.4 m uM) zeatin, 0.2 mg l(-1) (0.58 muM) gibberellic acid (GA(3)), and 10% (v/v) of coconut water (CW). Pro-embryos, from suspension culture matured on sem i-solid MS medium in about 18 wk, and were then cultured on semi-solid MS m edium without growth regulators for 2-3 wk. Shoots were regenerated on MS b asal medium supplemented with 3.0 mg l(-1) (13.6 muM) 2,4-D, 1.0, mg l(-1) (4.4 muM) BA, LO mg l(-1) (2.9 muM) GA(3), 0.5 mg l(-1) (2.7 muM) 1-naphtha leneacetic acid (NAA), 500 mg l(-1) casein hydrolysate, and 10% (v/v) CW. R ooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized to greenhouse and outdoor co nditions. Using this protocol, it would be possible to produce at least 130 0 fully acclimatized plantlets annually.