Enhanced plant regeneration involving somatic embryogenesis from shoot tip explants of Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench)

A highly efficient protocol was developed for plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from shoot tip explants of Sorghum bicolor by combining the plant growth regulators,- 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and kinetin along with casein hydrolysate and L-proline in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The frequency of embryogenic callus formation was found to be highest with 99%, when shoot tip explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 0.25 mg/L kinetin and 500 mg/L of casein hydrolysate. The highest mean number of 33.3 somatic embryos was obtained, when the embryogenic callus was subcultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 0.25 mg/L kinetin, and 500 mg/L of casein hydrolysate and 500 mg/L of L-proline. The somatic embryos were transferred to regeneration medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators and a highest regeneration of 21.4 plantlets per embryogenic callus was achieved in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 4 mg/L benzyl aminopurine. The regenerated shoots were transferred onto different rooting media containing the auxinsindole- 3- acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and 1-napthalene acetic acid, respectively each supplemented at the concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L in half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium with 0.8 gm/L activated charcoal. The highest number of roots and root length of 12.4 and 5.7 cm respectively, were obtained in halfstrength Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid and 0.8 gm/L activated charcoal. The in vitro grown plantlets transferred to green house were morphologically similar to in vivo plants with survival rates up to 70%.

Author(s): Amali P, Kingsley SJ and Ignacimuthu S

Abstract | PDF

Share This Article