Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Roots of Bamboo (Bambusa beecheyana Munro var. beecheyana)

Summary Somatic embryogenesis and subsequent formation of plantlets was achieved from callus cultures derived from the roots of bamboo ( Bambusa beecheyana Munro var. beecheyana). Embryogenic callus was initiated on Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS) supplemented with 2 mg/L kinetin, 3 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and 6 % sucrose. Prolonged culture of embryogenic callus on the same medium resulted in embryoid formation, eventually germination, and establishment of rooted plantlets that were successfully transferred to soil.