Direct Shoot Regeneration from Mature Scutellum Explants of Sorghum bicolor L.

An effecient protocol for direct shoot regeneration from mature scutellum explants of Sorghum bicolor L. has been established using thidiazuron (TDZ). Pre-treatment of sorghum seeds on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1.0 mg/l TDZ for 10 days played an important role in promoting regeneration. After pre-treatment of seeds with TDZ, mature scutellum explants were used to induce multiple shoots on shoot induction medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l TDZ. The induction frequency of shoots was upto 96%. Multiple shoots elongated when they were subcultured biweekly on the same regeneration medium with 0.5 mg/l TDZ. Rooting was achieved on half strength MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Well developed healthy plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the field with 85% survival rate without any somaclonal variations. This efficient regeneration system provides a solid basis for the genetic transformation of sorghum.