Efficient plant regeneration of Malaysian indica rice MR 219 and 232 via somatic embryogenesis system

Abstract

Improvement on rice plant regeneration system from an embryogenic callus using two Malaysian indica rice MR 219 and MR 232 was developed in this study. Different stages of rice explants (zygotic embryos) were tested for callus induction and regeneration using various carbon sources and amino acids. The present study shows that dough stage of zygotic embryos was the best stage of explants for the embryogenic callus induction and regeneration of both rice cultivars. The embryogenic callus nature with the compact structure was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Inclusion of maltose at the concentration between 10 and 20 mg/L shown higher responsive for the development of green somatic embryos and initiation of rice regeneration with an average of 29–37 (87–91%) regenerated plantlets, respectively. All in vitro regenerated rice plantlets were green, morphological and physiologically healthy condition. Rice plantlets were hardened in acclimatization room for 3 weeks and later transferred into soil with 95% survival in both varieties were recorded. Hence, regeneration system from zygotic rice embryos via somatic embryogenesis system was carried out successfully by using 10 g/L of maltose and combinations of glutamine, asparagine and arginine amino acids.