Establishment of a Regeneration System By Callus Induction From Seeds of Prairie Cordgrass.

A regeneration protocol for somatic embryogenesis from prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) seeds was established in this study. Callus induction from seeds of an octoploid (PCG109) prairie cordgrass plants was achieved on Chu N6 salt (N6) and Gamborg’s B5 (B5) media containing 1.0-3.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The highest regeneration rate (80-85%) was achieved using 3.0 mg/L 2,4-D in Gambryo B5 and Chu N6 media. Secondary somatic embryogenesis was achieved following primary somatic embryogenesis on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine and 0.2 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. Environmental scanning microscopy revealed that somatic embryogenesis in ‘PCG 109’ produced octoploid cells. The regenerated plants developed roots on 0.5X MS medium lacking plant growth hormones. Well-rooted, whole ‘PCG109’ plants acclimatized in soil in a nursery box exhibited a survival ratio of 100%.  The regenerated plants were transplanted in field nursery in Urbana, IL in September 2013.