Organogenesis and in vitro flowering of Echinochloa colona. Effect of growth regulators and explant types

Echinochloa colona regeneration via organogenesis in callus cultures derived from leaf base and mesocotyl explants and in vitro flowering were achived. Shoot bud regeneration was achieved on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with 6.66 mu M 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 2.68 mu M 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 3 % (m/v) saccharose. Regenerated shoots were rooted on half strength basal MS medium with 2 % (m/v)saccharose devoid of growth regulators. About 90 - 95 % of rooted plantlets survived in the greenhouse. liz vitro flowering was induced in the regenerated shoots derived from callus on half strength MS medium supplemented with 4.4 mu M BAP, 74.07 mu M adeninesulphate, 0.72 mu M gibberellic acid, and 3 % (m/v) saccharose. The frequency of in vitro flowering was 80 - 90 % in three repeated experiments. Fertile seeds were recovered from in vitro grown plantlets which were subsequently germinated into plants.