Somatic embryogenesis from isolated scutella of wheat: effects of physical, physiological and genetic factors

Abstract

Induction of high frequency somatic embryogenesis from in vitro culture of isolated scutella has been referred to as the Enhanced Regeneration System (ERS). In the present study, the importance of such factors as genotype, culture medium, explant size and cold pretreatment in the induction of somatic embryogenesis and regeneration response of isolated scutella was assessed in a complete block design experiment. Two species of wheat, Triticum aestivum and T. durum were compared and the findings between the two differed. The relative importance of genotype effect prevailed over all factors. In cultivars with similar embryogenic potential, the effect of explant size and cold pretreatment had major influence on the induction and regeneration frequencies. The use of an induction medium composed of amino acids and double Murashige and Skoog salt concentration, favorably increased the regeneration frequency in T. aestivum, whereas the regeneration frequency in T. durum decreased due to developmentally arrested embryos.