Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration derived from mature embryos of oat

Abstract

Embryogenic callus has been the most used target tissue for cereal genetic transformation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the establishment of embryogenic calli and the in vitro plant regeneration from mature embryos of oat genotypes (Avena sativa L.). Mature embryos were taken out of the seeds and placed on a culture medium MS (Murashige & Skoog), containing 30,0 mg L^-1 of sucrose and 2,0 mg L^-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). From the induction period, embryogenic aggregates were isolated and subcultivated each 21 days into a fresh medium. After this period, embryogenic calli were transferred to a medium for shoot regeneration. Subsequently, the shoot was transferred to a medium for root induction. There was variability among genotypes for somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plant regeneration from mature embryos. This explant allowed the induction of calli with ability to multiply and regenerate high number of plants from genotypes as UFRGS 7 and UFRGS 19, what makes it capable for oat genetic transformation.