Primary studies on tissue culture from mature embryos in diploid and tetraploid wheat

Abstract

Using mature embryos (MEs) as the explants, the callus induction, embryogenic callus differentiation, plantlet regeneration and culture efficiency in diploid and tetraploid wheat of four genotypes were studied. The tested four genotypes wheat included cultivable emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schuble), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and the common wheat progenitors Triticum dicoccoides and Triticum aegilopides. Results indicated that there were significant differences in the efficiency of callus induction, callus differentiation and plant regeneration among the tested genotypes. The efficiency of differentiation and regeneration shows strong genotype dependence. The rates of callus induction, embryogenic callus differentiation, plantlet regeneration and culture efficiency respectively were 95.00%, 90.00%, 32.40%, and 27.70% in cultivable emmer wheat, which were significantly higher than other tested genotypes. Therefore, this study has provided a basis for genetic transformation, gene cloning and molecular plant breeding in wheat and other related species.

Keywords

diploid wheat / tetraploid wheat / mature embryo / tissue culture