Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaflets of “Nanou” bahiagrass

Abstract

It is an important basic step in developing genetic modification techniques to identify relevant simple and efficient tissue culture and plant regeneration systems for agronomically important cultivars. Culture conditions for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaflet tissues of “Nanou” bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge L.) are described. Cultures were done for callus formation on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) containing 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the dark, and for plant regeneration on MS medium containing kinetin and giberellic acid in 16 h light. Two kinds of yellowish and white calli were obtained from the leaflets. In the continuous cultures, embryogenic calli and somatic embryogenesis were initiated from yellowish calli, but not from white calli. The plants were produced with multiple germinating embryos. We have therefore established a simple and efficient tissue culture and plant regeneration system available for genetic engineering.