Plant regeneration from embryo-callus culture in barley

Abstract

Plants were regenerated from callus cultures initiated from immature embryos of barley, Hordeum vulgare L. Immature embryos from seven diverse genotypes were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg 2,4-D and 6.5 mg IAA/l. Of the 249 embryos cultured, 30% initiated callus within 8 days. Subculture of callus for 80 to 100 days on half-MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/l zeatin resulted in organogenesis. Culture of organogenic calli for 30 days on half-MS medium without growth regulators produced plants which originated mostly via multiple shoot formation. Callusing response of the tested genotypes ranged from zero to 44%; however, only 23% of the calli were regenerative. Regenerated plants included variants for chlorophyll deficiency, plant height, stem thickness, spike shape, pollen fertility, seed set and ploidy.