Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Development from Mature Seed Embryo Explants of Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Wild

Abstract

Efficient plant production via indirect somatic embryogenesis was established by using mature seed-derived embryo explants of Bambusa arundinacea. The present investigation demonstrates an optimized method for somatic embryogenesis using various auxins and cytokinins. The seed-derived embryos as explants were cultured on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L each of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) to induce embryogenic callus, and the maximum percent of embryogenic callus induction obtained was (85 %) with compact and nodular structure. Proliferated embryogenic callus was transferred onto MS medium fortified with 2,4-D (1.0 mg/L) and α- naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (1.0 mg/L) in combination with different doses of BAP and/or kinetin (KIN) (0.5–4.0 mg/L) for somatic embryo formation and maturation. Somatic embryos developed were rapidly multiplied upon frequent subculture onto fresh medium to attain maturation. The highest percent of embryo maturation (94 %) as well as germination of somatic embryos (25.1 %) was noticed on MS medium containing the combination of 2,4-D+NAA+BAP (1.0 mg/L each). The matured embryos were germinated into full plantlets which were transferred into paper cups initially. The acclimatized plantlets were hardened successfully in the pots containing soil under greenhouse conditions where about 90 % of the plants were survived. Histological investigations confirmed the initiation of embryos during the somatic embryogenesis process. Therefore, indirect somatic embryogenesis is an alternate promising tool for high-frequency plant regeneration. In this investigation, a reliable plant regeneration protocol via somatic embryogenesis has been developed, and it could be more suitable for commercial scale micropropagation of Bambusa arundinacea plants in the near future.