ORGANOGENESIS IN TALL WHEATGRASS

Authors: MATAND, KANYAND - LANGSTON U, SCH AGRIC; ACQUAAH, GEORGE - LANGSTON U, SCH AGRIC; Kindiger, Bryan; BURNS, MARVIN - LANGSTON U, SCH AGRIC

Submitted to: Plant Growth Regulation Society of America Quarterly
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2004
Publication Date: 6/10/2005
Citation: Matand, K., Acquaah, G., Kindiger, B.K., Burns, M. 2005. Organogenesis in tall wheatgrass. Plant Growth Regulation Society of America Quarterly. 33(2):76-82.

Interpretive Summary: Tall wheatgrass is a perennial cool-season forage that has been identified as a productive and persistent livestock forage species for the Southern Plains region of the USA. However, the genetic nature of this species precludes efficient breeding improvements by traditional breeding methods. As a consequence, an alternative approach that is more efficient in developing improved cultivars is required. The application of tissue culture methods is one approach that could provide a more efficient breeding and improvement tool. This research focused on identifying appropriate tissue culture methods that could be beneficial when utilizing micro-propagation or biolistic transformation methods to introduce or modify genetic traits that would confer agronomic advantages. The investigations identified appropriate media and hormone treatments that resulted in a superior level of shoot and root regeneration in plant cell cultures of the variety 'Jose' tall wheatgrass. The identification of an appropriate cell culture method provides an opportunity for researchers interested in utilizing non-traditional breeding approaches to introduce advantageous traits into this species.

Technical Abstract: Tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkw & D. R. Dewey) is a perennial cool-season forage grass that has shown promise as a persistent drought tolerant and productive livestock forage for the southern plains. Since tall wheatgrass is a complex polyploid with much genome duplication, genetic improvements through a traditional breeding approach would be improbable and difficult. Approaches utilizing approaches such as micro-propagation and biolistic transformation have the potential to enhance traditional breeding of this species and result in a more efficient and rapid development of superior cultivars. Despite the potential benefits of these technologies, in vitro regeneration of grass forages has been limited due to their poor amenability to adventitious shoot and root formation. Consequently, a prerequisite for the application of such technologies requires an efficient adventitious shoot and root regeneration tissue culture protocol. This research utilized a number of media and hormone treatments and identified the appropriate conditions and treatments for the inducement of a superior level of shoot and root regeneration in 'Jose' tall wheatgrass. These results will be of value to those interested in utilizing micro-propagation or plant transformation approaches for improving tall wheatgrass germplasm.