Control and Maintenance of Plant Regeneration in Sugarcane Callus Cultures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Chen, W. H., Davey, M. R., Power, J. B. and Cocking, E. C 1988. Control and maintenance of plant regeneration in sugarcane callus cultures.—J. exp. Bot. 39: 251–261. Sugarcane cultures produced three morphologically distinct types of callus: a white compact callus capable of plant regeneration, a friable non-morphogenic callus and a mucilaginous nodular callus which could revert to these other two types depending on the concentration of 2, 4-D in the culture medium. Leaf explants formed morphogenic callus more readily than excised stem apices, with most prolific callus formation in the dark. Variation was observed in the response of leaf explants, from different sugarcane species, varieties and commercial cultivars, to callus induction. Visual selection of suitable callus at each subculture combined with incubation in the dark and the use of alternating high-low 2, 4-D concentrations in the culture medium, were essential in maintaining the morphogenic callus. Using such a scheme, the capacity for plant regeneration was maintained for over 30 months after callus induction. Morphogenic callus younger than 12 months from induction formed somatic embryos and/or shoot meristems when transferred to a medium with activated charcoal. However, only organogenesis occurred in older cultures. Somatic embryos and/or shoot meristeras produced plants on auxin-free medium, which rooted on medium with 7% w/v sucrose. Over 90% of potted plants were grown to maturity in the glasshouse.