Somatic embryogenesis in Zea mays L.

Immature embryos of 12 genotypes of Zea mays L. were cultured on agar nutrient media containing various concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and sucrose. An opaque, white, compact and organized callus tissue was formed by the proliferation of the scutellar cells present in the vicinity of the scutellar node near the coleorhiza. Well-organized somatic embryos were formed on the surface of the proliferating scutellar callus within about three weeks. The embryos showed the typical organization of grass embryos with a scutellum, coleoptile and coleorhiza, and germinated to form normal green plants which were grown to maturity. An embryogenic cell suspension culture obtained from the scutellar callus is now being used for the isolation and culture of protoplasts.