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Registration of Embryogen‐P Orchardgrass Germplasm with a High Capacity for Somatic Embryogenesis from in Vitro Cultures
Author(s) -
Conger B. V.,
Hanning G. E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1991.0011183x003100030075x
Subject(s) - germplasm , somatic embryogenesis , conger , biology , library science , botany , tissue culture , in vitro , ecology , genetics , computer science
EMBRYOGEN-P orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) germplasm (Reg. no. GP-2, PI 543748) was released by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station in April 1990. Embryogen-P was derived from the cultivar 'Potomac' (8) by screening > 100 plants for plant regeneration from leaf segments cultured in vitro on Shenk and Hildebrandt (6) medium containing 30 nM dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid). Two embryos were found on a callus derived from a leaf segment of one plant. The embryos were germinated and the resulting seedlings established as plants. When leaves from these plants were cultured in vitro, a very high capacity for somatic embryogenesis was observed (1,4). The embryogenic response was maintained with additional in vitro culture cycles (5). The response is highly genotype dependent and appears to be controlled by one or a few dominant nuclear genes (2). The main value and use of Embryogen-P will be as an experimental laboratory organism. In addition to producing somatic embryos directly from mesophyll cells (1) and anthers and pistils (7), embryos can also be produced to a fully developed (germinable) stage in a single liquid medium (3). These cell and tissue culture systems are unique among Gramineae, and provide novel research opportunities in plant development and biotechnology. Plants of Embryogen-P are phenotypically normal in color and morphology. They are fertile and can be used in crosses with other genotypes. Limited cytological studies have revealed no chromosome abnormalities. Plants established in the field, especially those from third or fourth regeneration cycles, appear to be slightly less stress tolerant (e.g., less drought and winter hardiness) compared with seed-grown plants of Potomac. Embryogen-P is maintained by the Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. Requests for it will be honored by supplying sterile cultures of leaf segments or live propagules from greenhouse plants. It is requested that users give appropriate acknowledgment when Embryogen-P contributes to the development of new germplasm or cultivars or publications resulting from laboratory experiments.