Shoot tips of wheat as an alternative source for regenerable embryogenic callus cultures

Abstract

Shoot tips of Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Turbo and Nandu, both summer wheat varieties, were excised from 4 and 10 day-old seedlings, and used for induction of embryogenic callus. A modified L3 medium, supplemented with 10 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for culture initiation, and 5 μM 2,4-D for subculturing, was optimal; 90% of 4 day-old 'Turbo' seedlings formed embryogenic callus. Optimal plant regeneration was achieved from callus incubated on a modified MS medium without 2,4-D, but supplemented with 2.22 μM 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.27 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Plantlets formed via embryogenesis from all embryogenic 'Turbo' calli initiated from 4 day-old explants, with a mean number of 8 regenerants per explant. Regeneration occured via embryogenesis only. Results obtained using 'Nandu' were within the same range.