The Culture of Eragrostis Tef in vitro

Abstract

A tissue culture system was used to determine the nutritional and hormonal requirements for the culture of Eragrostis tef in vitro since conventional methods of breeding gave little or no results. Calli were initiated from the nodal stem segments on Heller’s medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (10 mg/1). The calli thus formed at the nodes were isolated and subcultured at 4-to 6-week intervals on either the initiating medium or on a medium containing an additional amino acid complex. Single roots, multiple roots, and plantlets were thus induced from the second and third subculture calli on Heller’s medium without growth substances. Another significant finding was that shoots with roots, shoots with inflorescence only, and shoots with callus can be initiated directly from the nodal stem segment by the manipulation of the components of the media. Plants that developed directly from the nodal stem segments in vitro were isolated and grown in a greenhouse environment. A multiple-stemmed plant was formed that produced viable seeds. This technology could set E. tef breeders free from the historical constraints of working with normal sexual cycles, maturation, and growth characteristics.