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Development and Growth Regulation

Long-Term in Vitro Culture of Wheat Grains

Department of Plant Genetics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76 100, Israel, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

Wheat (Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum) grains were excised immediately following fertilization and cultured until maturity. A rachis fragment attached to the grain was required to ensure an increase in grain size for the first 10 days following fertilization. A ¹⁴C-labeling study revealed that 8-day-old grains accumulated more dry matter into the ethanol-insoluble fraction when grown on agar rather than when immersed in liquid medium. Light enhanced the absorption of sucrose from the medium only in the latter case. In agar-based culture, when no contact was made between the grain surface and the medium, peeling off the outer pericarp layers increased sugar absorption, leading to a threefold increase in the amount of accumulated dry matter in the ethanol-insoluble fraction. Culturing of wheat grains with attached rachis fragment and peeled pericarp is recommended for maximum in vitro growth.