Investigation on the effects of plant growth regulators and Agrobacterium strain on regeneration and transformation of some Iranian rice cultivars

Tissue culture is one of the most critical steps in genetic engineering and other breeding programs of plants. In this study, the effect of some factors in regeneration of four rice cultivars, including: Hashemi, Kazemi, Tarom and Shafagh has been studied. In the first experiment the effect of 2,4-D at 4 levels (1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 mg/l) combination with Kin at three levels (0, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/l) on callus induction and plant regeneration in rice cultivars were studied. After two months calli were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 30g sucrose containing 2.5 mg/l BAP. Analysis of variance showed that Shafagh and Kazemi give the highest and lowest callus respectively. The best callus was obtained in medium supplemented with 0.8 mg/l Kin and 2.5 mg/l of 2,4-D. Analysis of variance showed that plant growth regulators used in callus induction medium, significantly affected the regeneration of plants. Cultivar had a significant effect on the regeneration rate. The highest plant regeneration and number of shoots per explant were obtained from callus derived from medium containing 0.8 mg/l Kin and 1.5 mg/l of 2,4-D. The Kazemi gave the highest percentage (74 %) and Tarom gave the lowest percentage (10%). Among the three strains used for transformation of rice, transgenic callus was obtained only with strain EHA105.