Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in the forage grass Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasica).

Plantlets were regenerated from cultured seed explants of the forage grass Caucasian bluestem [Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubbard] via somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was produced in four weeks when surface sterilized seeds were cultured on a medium containing MS-salts, B-5 vitamins, 12 mM L-proline, 2% sucrose, 0.8% agar and 5μM 2,4-D. Plantlets were regenerated in 6-8 weeks after culture initiation. Healthy root and shoot systems were produced within three weeks after the plantlets were transferred to a medium lacking 2,4-D. Approximately 95% of the plantlets survived greenhouse acclimation and produced healthy plants and viable seeds. Caucasian bluestem callus cultures exhibit natural resistance to kanamycin. High levels of kanamycin (up to 800 mg/l) did not completely inhibit callus growth. However, the regeneration of healthy-plantlets was completely inhibited by kanamycin even at low levels (50 mg/l).