Morphogenesis in Long-term Maintained Immature Embryo-derived Callus of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) - Histological Evidence for Both Somatic Embryogenesis and Organogenesis

Callus induced from immature embryos of wheat cv Kharchia 65 on Murashige and Skoog's medium containing 2.5 mg I⁻¹ 2,4-D was maintained in the regenerable state by subculturing every 5–6 weeks on medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2.5 mgI⁻¹) and proline (10 mg l⁻¹). Addition of proline helped maintain morphogenic competence for over four years. The regenerating callus was analysed histologically about one year after first induction. Both somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis were seen in the same callus tissue that contained typical stages of somatic embryoid development and evidence for the de novo shoot bud formation.