The interaction of genotype and culture medium on the tissue culture responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. thell) callus

The effect of the interaction of genotype and culture medium on the initiation of callus from immature embryos and subsequent plant regeneration was investigated in eight hexaploid wheat lines. Intervarietal differences in culture response and interaction of the genotype with coconut milk are reported. The relative contributions of media and genotype effects to culture performance are assessed. The observation that primordia and shoot development was promoted by coconut milk in some lines and inhibited in others is particularly significant given that coconut milk is widely used to try to improve culture response. This report shows that this effect is dependent on the genotype of the tissues in culture.