Author
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OSUNA, PEDRO - NEW MEXICO STATE UNIV |
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Barrow, Jerry |
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Submitted to: Congress on In Vitro Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2004 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) is an important forage grass in southwestern USA rangelands. Plants were regenerated by somatic embryogenesis. Surface disinfested seeds were germinated and the embryonic shoots were excised and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium gelled with agar. Callus was induced from apical meristems. Calluses were cultured on MS solid medium with six concentrations of 2,4, D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) or Dicamba (6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) for 6 weeks under light or dark conditions. Somatic embryo induction was greatest on 4.52 um Dicamba, under light, after transferring to an auxin- free medium. Embryo development progressed from globular, torpedo to mature embryos phenotypically identical to those naturally produced in seed that developed into intact plants and were established in soil and grown to maturity. Two fungal species, Aspergillus ustus and Puccinia cacabata, consistently associated with native populations were also found to be intimately integrated with meristematic mother cells from germinating seedlings and were associated with cells, tissues and regenerated plants. Fungi form protective biofilms on cells and tissues in culture and on root and leaf surfaces of regenerated and native plants. The ecological role of these endophytes is to protect plant surfaces from hostile external environmental conditions. |