High frequency plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in finger millet ( Eleusine coracana Gaertn)

Abstract

When caryopses and excised shoot tips of finger millet ( Eleusine coracana) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with picloram (4 mg/l) and kinetin (0.5 mg/l), the shoot apex of the germinated seedling as well as the excised shoot tip developed into a dark green callus mass. When such callus cultures were transferred to medium with reduced levels of picloram and kinetin, numerous somatic embryos developed from the surface. Somatic embryos germinated into plantlets on a medium devoid of growth regulators.