Plant Regeneration from Sliced Mature Embryo Fragments of Wheat Cultivars

Mature embryos were aseptically excised with a scalpel and sliced in fragments measuring 0.5 mm in diameter (sliced mature embryo fragment; 4~5 fragments/one embryo). Sliced mature embryo fragments of six wheat cultivars were cultured to develop an efficient method of callus induction and plant regeneration. Callus derived from sliced mature embryo fragments showed a good capacity to embryogenesis and regeneration. Furthermore sliced mature embryo fragments decreased contamination from fungi and bacteria. The high efficiency of callus induction were obtained Keumkangmil and Bobwhite. For plant regeneration, selected embryogenic calli were transferred to two types regeneration media. An average number of green spots per callus was 4 to 5 in regeneration media after about one week. Percentage of plant regeneration showed high in regeneration medium containing 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D and 5 mg/l zeatin. Especially, Keumkangmil (27.5%) and Bobwhite (33.3%) showed high regeneration efficiency. This regeneration system from sliced mature embryo fragments may provide an effective and convenient explant for plant transformation studies.