Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in glandless upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.)

Glandless upland cotton has an important economic value. Embryogenic calli and regenerated plants were obtained from the hypocotyl explants of glandless upland cotton seedlings, cultivar Jisheng1. The results indicated that somatic embryogenesis was significantly influenced by the types of auxin and cytokinin. 2, 4-D was advantageous to induce cotton callus, but embryogenic callus could not be obtained on the 2, 4-D medium. Embryogenic calli were also not obtained on the MSB sold medium with the combination of IBA and BA. However, embryogenic calli were induced when the hypocotyl explants were cultured on the IBA and KT medium. More than 31% of the hypocotyl segments produced embryogenic calli when the MSB medium was supplemented with 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ IBA and 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ KT. Embryogenic calli with somatic embryos could be observed within three months. Somatic embryo germination and maturation occurred on the hormone-free MSB medium with 1.0 g·L⁻¹ Gln and 0.5 g·L⁻¹ Asn. A number of regenerated plants could be obtained in six months. In the present study, a simple and efficient system was established to induce a number of embryogenic calli and regenerate plantlets from hypocotyl explants.