In vitro development of early proembryos and plant regeneration via microculture in Oryza sativa

Two convenient and efficient microculture techniques (liquid droplet and shallow-layered culture) were used to rear 2-day-old and 3 to 4 day-old proembryos in rice. Among four cultivars, growth rate and frequency of embryogenesis were higher in the japonica cultivars than in the indica cultivars during proembryo culture. Two-day-old proembryos could grow and form callus only in Km8p and N6 among four kinds of tested media, and plantlets regenerated via organogenesis. Plant regeneration from callus initiated from three- and four-day-old proembryos occurred through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis. For in vitro embryogenesis it was essential to supplement the medium with 14 amino acids and coconut milk. The highest frequency of embryogenesis and the frequency of total induction after 14 days of culture were approximately 42% and 95% for 3-day-old proembryos, and 45% and 100% for 4-day-old proembryos, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.