Plant regeneration from somatic embryogenic suspension cultures of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Maintainable, highly embryogenic suspension cultures of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. 'Coker 310') have been obtained. Callus cultures were initiated from cotyledonary tissues from aseptically-germinated seedlings. To establish the suspension cultures, callus tissue was placed in a liquid medium containing either 0.5 mg/l picloram or 0.1 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. For proliferation of the embryogenic suspension, 5 mg/l of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was used. Embryo development took place when the embryogenic tissue was transferred to an auxin-free liquid medium containing 15 mM glutamine. Early embryo development was fairly synchronous and large numbers of somatic embryos were produced. Regenerated plants were fertile and smaller than seed-derived plants.