EFFECT OF DIFFERENT EXPLANTS AND MEDIA COMPOSITIONS FOR EFFICIENT SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN SUGARCANE (SACCAHARUM OFFICINARUM)

An efficient embryogenic response (both direct and indirect) of two different varieties of sugarcane (CP 77,400 and BL-4) was obtained in this study. The results demonstrates that fresh inner whorl of leaves and shoot apical meristem of sugarcane were highly amenable to in vitro somatic embryogenesis (both direct and indirect). A combination of 3.0 mg/l 2,4-D with 0.25 mg/l BAP was more potent for direct embryo induction and growth in both the varieties of sugarcane. For indirect somatic embryogenesis the combination of 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D with 0.25 mg/l BAP showed best results in CP 77,400 while in BL-4 it was 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D with 0.5 mg/l BAP. The optimum temperature for callus induction and proliferation was found to be 27 ± 1°C. In CP 77,400, best shoot regeneration response was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP. while in BL-4, MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l Kinetin showed best organogenic response