Regeneration of plants via somatic embryogenesis from leafbase and leaf tip segments ofEchinochloa colona

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was achieved in leafbase and leaf tip explants derived from 10-day-oldin vitro-grown seedlings ofEchinochloa colona. Somatic embryogenesis was induced in the callus on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 4.44 µM 6-benzyladenine, 4.64 µM kinetin and 8.05 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid after 4 weeks of culture incubated for 14 days in continuous dark and subsequently under a 14-h photoperiod. The incidence of somatic embryogenesis was greater in leafbase- than in leaf tip-derived calluses. Histological observations revealed various stages of development of somatic embryogenesis. The embryos matured and germinated on fresh medium lacking growth regulators. The somatic embryo-derived plantlets were established in soil.