Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in callus culture of green bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii Munro)

Summary Young inflorescence explants of green bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii Munro) in culture show a high capacity for plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was initiated from explants maintained on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 3 mg/l 2,4-D, 2 mg/l kinetin and a high content (60 g/l) of sucrose. Prolonged culture in the embryoid induction medium or transferral of embryonic callus to auxin-free medium resulted in the continued development and eventual germination of embryoids and establishment of rooted plantlets that were successfully transferred to soil.