Plantlet regeneration from glume calli of maize (Zea mays L.)

Totipotent callus cultures were established from anther-free glumes of ‘Sweet corn’, ‘Seed corn,’ ‘DHM 103’ and ‘DHM 101’ on MS medium supplemented with 1–2 mg/l 2,4-D. The callusing response of the glumes was tested on six different media. Glumes at the uninucleate stage of pollen development callused with a high frequency compared to other stages. Organogenesis was observed in 40% of the cultures on media devoid of hormones. A total of 76 plantlets were regenerated on medium with 0.5–1.0 mg/l of both IAA and kinetin. Cytological observations in root tips indicated a diploid chromosome number (2n=20).