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Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration capacity in tropical maize inbreds

Laudenir M. Prioli^*; William J. da Silva

Departamento de Genética e Evolução, IB, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, 13085 Campinas, SP, Brasil
*Present address: Department of Genetics, Box 7614, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

ABSTRACT

Thirty-four tropical homozygous inbred maixe (Zea maysL.) lines with high combining ability were evaluted for in vitro regeration capacity. The inbreds were derived primarily from three gene pools: Cateto, tuxpeño, and a Tupexeño x teosinte advanced population. Immature embryos were used for callus induction on N₆ medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2.5 mM and 10 mM) and sucrose (3% and 6%). Induction of embryogenic calls and plant regeneration was achieved for 20 inbreds. Friable embryogenic calli were initiated directly from the scutellum of immature embryos of three inbreds. It was demonstrated that the tropical maize lines studied have significant genetic differences for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. The Cateto inbreds were the most responsive in yielding embryogenic callus and for plant regeneration. It was demonstrated that the physiological state of immature embryos, growing seasons and specific interactions between genotype and growth conditions of donor plants can modify the expressivity of genes controlling the induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in maize. The results support the hypothesis of the existence of genes that control plant regeneration and suggest that these genes are present in different frequencies among tropical maize lines.

Keywords: Somatic embryogenesis; Plant regeneration; Maize.

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