Effect of culture media on seed germination and callus induction from cultured seeds of rice cultivars

Seeds of six rice cultivars namely BPT-5204, MTU-029, Narendra Usar Dhan-3, Rajendra Bhagwati, CSR-30 and Pusa Basmati-1 were tissue cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of 2,4-D and KIN for seed germination and callus formation. Medium MS6 showed the best seed germination followed by media MS5, MS4 and MS3, MS2 and MS1 respectively. Further, medium MS1 showed the best callus formation followed by media MS2, MS3 and MS4, MS5 and MS6 respectively. Cultivar MTU-7029 showed the highest frequency of seed germination followed by cvs. BPT-5204, Pusa Basmati-1, Narendra Usar Dhan-3, Rajendra Bhagwati and CSR-30 respectively. Further, cultivar CSR-30 showed the highest frequency of callus formation followed by cvs. Pusa Basmati-1, Narendra Usar Dhan-3, Rajendra Bhagwati and BPT-5204 respectively. The callus growth was good to excellent in cvs. CSR-30, Pusa Basmati-1 and Narendra Usar Dhan-3 and average to good in cvs. Rajendra Bhagwati and MTU-7029 and low to good in cv. BPT-204. The higher concentration of 2,4-D in the medium increased callus formation and reduced seed germination while the higher concentration of kinetin increased the seed germination and reduced the callus formation. An efficient seed germination and callus formation protocol was established. A suitable medium and culture condition will be useful for seed germination and callus formation-based stress tolerance studies.