In-vitro regeneration of Sehima nervosum: an important range grass species

Sehima nervosum (Rottler) Stapf is an apomictic, polyploid, and perennial natural range grass found inherently rich in precursors for several industrially important biomolecules. Production of nutraceuticals (prebiotics xylo-oligosaccharides) from this grass is promising. However, improvement efforts suffer due to its narrow genetic base and limited variability in germplasm collections. Biotechnological interventions promise to enhance genetic variability by inducing somaclonal variations and developing sexually reproducing lines to facilitate the release of otherwise ‘frozen’ variability. Seeds of S. nervosum cv. Bundel Saen Ghas 1 was used as an explant to develop a high-efficiency reproducible regeneration protocol in this crop. The seeds were inoculated onto MS media supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D for callus induction. Various combinations of BAP and Kinetin were tested for shoot regeneration from calli, while combinations of NAA were tested for efficient rooting. Callus induction frequency was maximum (upto 95%) in a medium containing 3.5 mg/l 2, 4-D. The highest shoot induction (98%) was obtained when supplemented with 2.5 mg/l kinetin, while the highest root initiation (42%) was obtained with 4.5 mg/l NAA supplementation. Regenerated plantlets were transplanted to pots, where they exhibited morphologically normal growth. A high-efficiency reproducible protocol for in-vitro culture was developed in this grass. This in-vitro tissue culture protocol could help generate somaclones and genetic transformation of Sehima with genes of agronomic importance.