In vitro Regeneration of Dryland Kenyan Maize Genotypes Through Somatic Embryogenesis

Abstract

In this study, we report successful regeneration of Kenyan white maize using immature embryos derived from three selected Kenyan dryland synthetic maize hybrids; Dryland Hybrid (DH) 02, Pwani Hybrid (PH) 01 and PH04 and an open pollinated variety-OPV (Katumani, KAT). The embryos were cultured in N6 medium supplemented with proline, casein hydrolysate, silver nitrate and 2% sucrose containing different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and incubated in total darkness at 28±2°C to initiate callus. Mature somatic embryos were sub-cultured in shoot promotion medium consisting of hormone free Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 2 mg L-1 glycine and 2% sucrose. Root formation was induced by sub-culturing the shoots on half strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and 0.1 mg L-1 of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA). Regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in soil and raised to maturity. Fertile progeny were also recovered.