CHARACTERIZATION OF TISSUE CULTURE INITIATION AND PLANT REGENERATION IN SPOROBOLUS VIRGINICUS (GRAMINEAE)

Area of Science:

• Plant biotechnology
• Salt tolerance research
• Halophyte propagation

Background:

• Sporobolus virginicus is a saltmarsh grass crucial for coastal ecosystems.
• Efficient regeneration methods are needed for studying and conserving halophytes.
• Understanding tissue culture responses in grasses is vital for crop improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a reliable tissue culture protocol for Sporobolus virginicus.
• To investigate regeneration pathways, including somatic embryogenesis and multiple shoot formation.
• To confirm the stability of salt tolerance in regenerated plants.

Main Methods:

• Initiation of tissue cultures from immature inflorescence of Sporobolus virginicus.
• Induction and characterization of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus.
• Regeneration of plants by manipulating auxin levels in the culture medium.
• Acclimation and field evaluation of regenerated plants under saline conditions.

Main Results:

• Embryogenic callus was successfully induced from ovary tissue.
• Plant regeneration occurred via somatic embryogenesis and multiple shoot formation.
• Regenerated plants exhibited stable salt tolerance when grown in saline environments.

Conclusions:

• Somatic embryogenesis is a primary regeneration route in Sporobolus virginicus.
• Multiple shoot formation may result from precocious somatic embryo germination.
• The established protocol facilitates the study and conservation of salt-tolerant grasses.