Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in Eleusine coracana Gaertn.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in Eleusine coracana Gaertn..

The embryogenic callus cultures of finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.) were initiated and multiplied in a medium containing 2,4-D in the range of 2.0-5.0 mgL-1. On the proliferation medium, callus differentiates localized groups of meristematic cells called proembryogenic mass on seed and mesocotyl explants and large number of globular proembryos were initiated directly on mesocotyl explants. When green nodulated seed-calli and mesocotyl calli were transferred to auxin-free medium or medium devoid of growth regulators, whole plantlet development was observed. Production of proembryogenic masses was confirmed with histological studies. In microtome sections, independent vasculature in embryogenic masses was clearly visible and origin of shoot and root initiation in callus was also studied . Direct plant regeneration was the regular feature of the present investigation when in vitro grown mesocolyl explants were cultured on MSb + NAA(0.5-5.0 mgL-1). Morphogenic potentials in all three varieties of finger millet (A404;PR202 and RAU-3-Ragi) were similar when culture vials got sufficient light period of 16 hrs and temperature ranging from 20- 25 ; though in PR202 variety this frequency was much more.....