The response of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) genotypes to callus induction, regeneration and different concentrations of the selective agent (geneticin -418)

Two commercial cultivars (CPF-245 and CPF-237) and three advanced lines (CSSG-668, S-2003US633, S-2003US114) of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarium) grown in Punjab, Pakistan were evaluated for their potential to induce callus, embryogenic callus and regeneration. Cultivar CSSG-668 was found to be the best genotype yielding maximum embryogenic callus and regeneration whereas cultivar CPF- 245 exhibited lowest callus induction frequency. Five different concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80mg/L) of the selective agent (geneticin-418) were used to optimize selection conditions with nontransformed embryogenic calli. The geneticin concentration 60 mg/L was found to be the optimal dose to select the embryogenic calli of genotypes CSSG-668, CPF-245 and S-2003US63, while 35 mg/L geneticin was found to be the best concentration for S-2003US-114. Similarly, 60 mg/L geneticin was optimum dose to select regenerated plantlets of the cultivars CSSG-668 and CPF-245 while it was 40, 25 mg/L for the cultivars S-2003US-114 and S-2003US-633, respectively. It is concluded from the present study that geneticin concentration in the range of 25 to 60 mg/L can be effectively used for the selection of transformed embryogenic calli and regenerants of different sugarcane cultivars.Keywords: Callus induction, embryogenic callus, regeneration, Saccharum officinarum L., selection, geneticin