An evaluation of callus induction and plant regeneration in twenty‐five turf‐type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars

In order to investigate the genetic variation in tissue culture response and to find the cultivars with high regeneration ability for genetic transformation, twenty‐five turf‐type tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars, including many elite ones released recently, were evaluated for their callus induction and plant regeneration responses. Callus induction was initiated from mature seeds on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 9·0 mg l–1 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D). Induced calli were subcultured on the same medium with 2·0 mg l–1 2,4‐D and then transferred to a MS medium supplemented with 2·5 mg l–1 6‐benzylaminopurine (BAP) for plant regeneration. Significant differences were observed among the twenty‐five cultivars in both callus induction and plant regeneration (P < 0·001). Callus induction rate of viable seeds varied from 4·4% to 51·9%. Callus regeneration rates ranged from 16·7% to 58·8%. Overall regeneration rates (number of regenerated calli over number of cultured viable seeds) ranged from 1% to 22%. Approximately 94% of the regenerants were green plantlets.