Plant regeneration from embryogenic suspension cultures of dune reed

Abstract

Embryogenic callus, derived from mature seeds of dune reed (Phragmites communisTrinius) was used to establish suspension culture. Green shoot-forming type and albino shoot-forming type embryogenic callus of dune reed were selected carefully by the difference of shape and color of callus growing under light and mechanically dispersed before suspending in liquid MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l⁻¹2,4-D. They were subcultured every 5 days to remove mucilaginous material in the early culture stage. Both fine albino and green shoot-forming cell suspension lines of dune reed were composed of rapidly growing small cell aggregates that were densely cytoplasmic and potentially embryogenic. Globular somatic embryos were continuously produced in each liquid medium containing 1.0 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D. The cell aggregates in fine albino cell suspension line (size below 300 μm) were smaller than that of green shoot-forming cell suspension line (size between 300 and 800 μm). Following transfer to a differentiation medium, both suspension cultures formed regenerating plants with normal roots and albinotic or green shoots, respectively.