Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cultured immature inflorescences of Setaria italica.

Young inflorescence explants of Setaria italica in culture showed high capacity for regenerating plantlets through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus formation was initiated from the explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.2-0.5 mg/l KT or BAP, but it was better for the maintenance of embryogenic growth to subculture the calli on the medium with 2,4-D and KT/BAP and on the medium with 2 mg/l 2iPA and 0.2 mg/l NAA alternately. A number of plantlets were regenerated when embryogenic calli were transferred onto the same basic medium but with 2 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA. Plant regeneration capacity has been maintained in some embryogenic calli during fourteen months of subculture.