Mutations and cell selections: Increased protein from regenerated rice tissue cultures

Abstract

Rice calli derived from PI 353705, similar to Assam 5, were isolated from anthers cultured in vitro. Isolated aggregates of cells were plated on a medium containing 10 −3 M S-amioethylcysteine ( S-AEC) which inhibits cell growth. Cells resistent to the inhibitor were recovered and after an auxinnutritional stepdown were regenerated into whole plants. Seeds from the plant and subsequent progeny were analyzed for protein and lysine content. Callus tissues derived from advanced progeny were again cultured in the presence of the inhibitor to determine the heritability of S-AEC resistance. Seed from the S-AEC resistant mutant had a small increase in seed lysine, and pronounced increase in protein. The S-AEC resistance of callus tissue was transmitted through plant regeneration and meiosis and expressed in callus re-established from embryos of second generation seed. The high protein level was also expressed in advanced generations.