Long-term callus cultures of diploid Barley (Hordeum vulgare). I. Auxin effects on culture initiation and maintenance

Summary Use of 2,4-D was superior to NAA or IAA for embryogenic callus initiation or maintenance in barley cultivar Bruce. A concentration of at least 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D was desirable for culture initiation. The developmental size of the embryo was more important than embryo age for obtaining embryogenic calli. Even brief exposures (20–40 days) of calli to concentrations of higher than 5.0 mg/l 2,4-D or 10.0 mg/l NAA resulted in inhibition of subsequent plant regeneration and therefore, concentrations above these could not be used for maintenance cultures. In the long-term maintenance cultures, the best production of embryogenic calli was with 0.1 mg/l and 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D.