Immature and mature embryos of 12 common winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes were cultured in vitro to develop an efficient method of callus formation and plant regeneration from mature embryo culture, and to compare the responses of both embryo cultures. Fifteen days after anthesis, immature embryos were aseptically dissected from seeds and placed with the scutellum upwards on a solid agar medium containing the inorganic components of Murashige and Skoog (MS) and 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Mature embryos were moved slightly in the imbibed seeds. The seeds with moved embryos were placed furrow downwards in dishes containing 8 mg/l 2,4-D for callus induction. The developed calli and regenerated plants were maintained on 2,4-D-free MS medium. Plants regenerated from both embryo cultures were vernalized and grown to maturity in soil. Regenerated plantlets all maintained the hexaploid chromosome number. A strong genotypic effect on the culture responses was found for both explant cultures. Callus induction rate, regeneration capacity of callus and number of plants regenerated were independent of each other. Mature embryos had a high frequency of callus induction and regeneration capacity, and therefore, being available throughout the year, can be used as an effective explant source in wheat tissue culture.

Efficient callus induction and plant regeneration from mature embryo culture of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

A wide range of phenotypic variation occurred among protoplast — derived plants of tetraploid potato cultivar ‘Bintje’. The variant plants had alterations in growth and vigour, and in leaf and stem characteristics. The results suggest that the altered morphologies are caused predominantly by changes in ploidy levels. Some alterations could be attributed typically to octoploidy and aneuploidy. The occurrence of mixoploidy indicates that at least part of the observed variation arose during culture stage. The exogeneous cytokinin or auxin level and their combination during in vitro phase influenced the frequency of the variants observed. The origin of variation is discussed.

Phenotypic variation and ploidy level of plants regenerated from protoplasts of tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. 'Bintje').

Developmental Gradients in Wheat Leaves - Response of Leaf Segments in Different Genotypes Cultured in vitro

The effect of the interaction of genotype and culture medium on the initiation of callus from immature embryos and subsequent plant regeneration was investigated in eight hexaploid wheat lines. Intervarietal differences in culture response and interaction of the genotype with coconut milk are reported. The relative contributions of media and genotype effects to culture performance are assessed. The observation that primordia and shoot development was promoted by coconut milk in some lines and inhibited in others is particularly significant given that coconut milk is widely used to try to improve culture response. This report shows that this effect is dependent on the genotype of the tissues in culture.

The interaction of genotype and culture medium on the tissue culture responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. thell) callus

Genetic engineering of cereals currently depends on the use of tissue culture and plant regeneration systems. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), immature embryos are the most widely used explant to initiate cultures, but they are inconvenient due to their temporal availability and production requirements. Mature embryos are easily stored and are readily available as mature seeds. However, plant regeneration frequencies from cultures derived from mature embryos are generally low. This research was undertaken to improve callus induction and plant regeneration from wheat mature embryos of cultivar ‘Bobwhite’. The effects of four auxins [2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D): 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba); 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram): and 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) propionic acid (2-MCPP)], and the effect of maltose vs. sucrose under filter sterilized and autoclaved conditions were evaluated. All auxin treatments resulted in callus induction except 2 MCPP. A highly significant effect of auxin type on both callus and plantlet production was detected, though interactions were observed. The effect of sugar type was dependent on the type of auxin used. Substitution of sucrose by maltose enhanced the regenration ability of callus from embryos cultured on media containing 2,4-D and picloram, but caused an opposite effect on media containing dicamba. Picloram significantly enhanced callus growth, however, embryogenic response and plant regenerability were low. Relative to 2.4-D, dicamba (18μM) resulted in a twofold increase in the number of plants regenerated per embryo and reduced the amount of time required for plant regeneration by 3–4 wk.

Alfinetta B Zamora

Papers

Callus formation and plant regeneration from wheat leaves