In vitro plant regeneration is preliminary requisite in the process of obtaining transgenic plants. Somatic embryogenesis is the most frequently used method of in vitro plant regeneration in maize. In this study, a reliable and reproducible maize regeneration method has been standardized by using mature embryos. In spite the immature embryos are most suitable explants for somatic embryogenesis, obtaining these explants continuously is a laborious and tedious process especially in summer. Hence, alternate explants of maize for somatic embryogenesis have been chosen from different parts of embryonic axis. This study provides an evaluation of inbred lines and effect of hormonal combinations on total and embryogenic callus induction, their growth rate and plantlet regeneration. Coleoptilar nodal explants from four inbred lines were cultured on different concentrations and combinations of 2, 4-D along with Kn. Explants grown on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4-D and Kn at a concentration of 5 and 1 mg l-1 respectively was found to be the best one for yielding high frequency of E. callus. Inbred line, NM81A was found to be the best one for in vitro culture among the four lines used. Combination of BAP and Kn at a concentration of 1 mg l-1 each promoted the highest frequency of shoot induction.
Key words: Coleoptilar Node, Somatic Embryogenesis, Growth rate, Zea mays L.
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