Anther culture and plant regeneration in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

Abstract

Anthers of Saccharum officinarum clone I 273-91 with microspores at mid uninucleate stage, responded to callusing within 60 days after plating on MS medium supplemented with sucrose (3%), 2, 4-D (2 mg/l) and coconut milk (10%). High sucrose concentration in callusing medium was found to be detrimental for callus induction. Frequency of callusing was 12.2% and 18.5% respectively when the anthers were incubated in callus induction medium (MS + 2.0 mg/l NAA or 2, 4-D + 10% coconut milk + 3% Sucrose). Thirty per cent of the androgenic calli differentiated into green plants within 15 days after transfer to regeneration medium (MS+NAA 0.5 mg/l+BA 1.0 mg/l+3% sucrose). Both albino and green plants were obtained from the androgenic calli in regeneration medium and differentiation of green plants were always more with 2, 4-D induced calli in comparison to NAA induced calli. Growth and multiplication of the regenerated shoots was obtained by transferring of individual shoots into multiplication medium (MS liquid medium + 1.0 mg/l NAA + 2.0 mg/l BA), which enabled them to multiply into 10-15 useable shoots within 30 days. Half MS salt solution supplemented with either NAA or IBA (5.0mg/l) was found suitable for rooting and further growth of the shoots. Regenerated androgenic plants showed narrow range of variability for different characters.