Agronomy and Horticulture Department

 

Date of this Version

1996

Citation

Maydica 41 (1996): 83-89

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a crop of worldwide agronomic importance. Routine production of high quality (friable, embryogenic, fast growing) callus cultures is fundamental to tissue culture based genetic study and improvement of sorghum. Genotype by culture medium interactions for sorghum callus growth and morphology have been previously reported. The objective of this study was to identify tissue culture media that would support high quality callus growth across photoperiod insensitive, relatively elite genotypes. Explants from immature inflorescences of 11 sorghum genotypes were cultured on 6 tissue culture media of differing composition. After 3 and 5 months in culture, calli were rated for pigment and mucilage production, friability, and embryogenesis. Media and genotype effects on callus phenotype were highly significant. Most genotypes produced highest quality callus on MS-based media. Significant genotype by media interactions for callus friability were also documented. Two media formulations, SIM2B5 and N6 were identified as superior for the culture of high quality callus initiated from photoperiod insensitive, elite sorghum lines.

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