Embryogenic cell suspensions from different explants and cultivars of Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees

The aim of this work was the establishment of embryogenic calli and cell suspensions from different explants and cultivars of weeping lovegrass, Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees, to be used as targets for biolistic transformation. Calli were initiated from immature inflorescences, seeds, embryos, leaf bases and root tips. Modified MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) was used for calli induction and proliferation. Cell suspensions were established and maintained in AAF medium (Wang et al., 1993). Morphogenic calli, embryogenic cell suspensions of moderate growth rate - consisting mainly of compact proembryogenic cell clusters- and green plants were obtained from all the explants and cultivars assayed, except root tips. Both, explant and genotype were very important factors to be considered in order to obtain a morphogenic response and to establish cell suspensions from this grass. The statistical analysis detected interaction between both factors, explants and genotypes. Immature inflorescences were the best source of explant and Kromdraai was the cultivar that showed the best morphogenic response (expressed as the percentage of calli/ explant and the percentage of calli with green spots -every green spot developed into green plants-) with inflorescences, embryos and leaf bases. For Morpa and Don Pablo embryos as explants were less responsive than seeds and leaf bases. There were no differences in leaf bases for all the three cultivars analysed.