In vitro Regeneration of Dryland Kenyan Maize Genotypes Through Somatic Embryogenesis

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Date
2006Author
Oduor, R.O.
Njagi, E.N.M.
Ndung`u, S.
Machuka, Jesse
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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.