Tissue Culture response of Local Varieties of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) of NWFP

Abstract

Four rice genotypes i.e. Swat I, Swat II, Dilrosh 97 and Pakhal were tested for their callus induction frequency and their subsequent regeneration from different explants on a variety of media combinations. Swat I appeared to be the most responsive genotype to callus induction followed by Swat II, Dilrosh 97 and Pakhal respectively. Swat I and Swat II produced high amount of callus compared to other genotypes. Callus induction frequencies ranged from 68.88 to 57.70 percent in Swat I, 60.00 percent in Swat II, 52.20 percent in Dilrosh 97 and 40.00 to 42.20 percent in Pakhal from scutella on two different media. Similar response was also found for root induced calli. However, N6 medium containing 2 mg/l of 2,4-D was found to be optimum for callus induction irrespective of the genotypes and explant studied. All varieties showed significant differences in regeneration from two and three week old calli. RM medium containing MS salts and vitamins, 2 gm casamino acid, 1 mg/l NAA, 2 mg/l BAP and 30 gm sorbitol gave comparatively higher regeneration response than the other two media tested. Plants regenerated were grown in harmone free MS medium for vigorous rooting and subsequent transfer to soil.