EMBRYOGENIC CALLUS INDUCTION AND PLANT-REGENERATION IN FORAGE SORGHUM SORGHUM-BICOLOR (L) MOENCH

The investigation was undertaken for standardising an efficient and reproducible tissue culture system for subsequent improvement programmes through somaclonal variation in forage sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Immature inflorescences of a pureline derivative from Sorghum x Sudan grass hybridization SSG-593 were used. Segments of inflorescence plated on modified LS produced profuse callus (81%) which on transfer to modified MS showed 47-95% plantlet regeneration. Five weeks old callus gave 100% plant regeneration which decreased with ageing of the callus. Anatomical examination of the regenerating callus suggested that plant regeneration occured through embryogenesis.