Partial desiccation augments plant regeneration from irradiated embryogenic cultures of sugarcane

Abstract

Partial desiccation treatment was applied to improve plant regeneration response in irradiated in vitro cultures. Embryogenic callus cultures of sugarcane cv. Co-671 were exposed to different doses of gamma radiation (0–80 Gy) and radiation effect was evaluated in terms of post-irradiation callus recovery, growth and regeneration of plants. Proliferative capacity of cultures was inversely correlated with radiation dose as the percentage surviving cultures or white proliferating clumps (WPC) decreased as the radiation dose increased up to 80 Gy. LD50 was found to be around 20–30 Gy and at higher doses, poor regeneration frequency was observed after 4–6 weeks of post-irradiation culture. To stimulate regeneration response, irradiated cultures were subjected to partial desiccation for 6 h and the treatment resulted in enhanced plant regeneration response. The study suggests that partial desiccation treatment can be useful in stimulating regeneration response of irradiated in vitro cultures.