Efficient plant regeneration system from seed-derived callus of ravenna grass [Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv.]

An effcient method of plant regeneration from seed-derived callus was established in ravenna grass [Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv.], which is an ornamental tall grass as well as an important biomass crop. For callus induction, mature seeds were cultured on media containing different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg l(-1)) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) (0, 0.1 and 0.2 mg l(-1)) on callus induction using MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962) supplemeted with 1 g l(-1) casamino acids, 30 g l(-1) maltose and 8 g l(-1) agar as a basal medium. The highest callus induction was obtained on medium supplemented with 2 mg l(-1) 2,4-D and 0.2 mg l(-1) BA, where 96% of explants formed callus. During the subculture of the calli on the same medium for 4 months, 3 types of calli showing different growth rate, color and morphology were differentiated. By using these 3 types of calli, effects of different concentrations of BA or 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin) (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg l(-1)) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg l(-1)) as plant growth regulators on shoot regeneration were evaluated using MS medium with 1 g l(-1) casamino acids as a basal medium. The highest frequency of shoot formation was obtained in type A callus, which had white and compact nature, on medium containing 30 g l(-1) sucrose, 1 mg l(-1) BA and 0.1-0.25 mg l(-1) NAA, where 89.3% of the calli formed shoots.