Plant regeneration from cultured immature embryos of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Immature embryos of 20 sorghum genotypes were cultured on MS 5 medium containing MS mineral salts supplemented with 2,4-D, zeatin, glycine, niacinamide, Ca-pantothenate, L-asparagine, and vitamins. For regeneration, calli were transferred onto the same medium with the exception that IAA was substituted for 2,4-D. In general, immature embryos obtained 9-12 days after pollination resulted in the best redifferentiation. Ability of calli to regenerate varied among genotypes; cultivars C401-1 and C625 had the highest redifferentiation frequencies. Ability to redifferentiate was heritable and acted as a dominant trait. At least two gene pairs were involved. Regenerated R0 plants were planted in a greenhouse and their selfed (R1 and R2) progenies were planted in the field and examined for morphological and cytological variations. The majority of the phenotypic variations noted in R0 were not transmitted to later generations. However, variants for plant height, degree of fertility, and midrib color persisted in R1 and R2 generations. A variation in tallness was attributable to one dominant mutant gene. Short stature and male sterility variants appeared to be consequences of recessive mutant genes controlling those traits. Minor variations in peroxidase banding patterns were found among R0 plants.