Micropropagation of Field-Grown Perennial Teosinte from Node Culture

Propagation of perennial diploid teosinte, Zea diploperennis lltis, Doebley and Guzman (2n = 2x = 20), and tetraploid teosinte, Z. perennis (Hitchc.) Reeves and Magelsdorf (2n = 4x = 40), is limited by seed availability. For plants grown in the field, a photoperiod response delays flowering until fall, and seeds may not reach maturity. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro micropropagation protocol for field grown teosinte. Shoot proliferation was induced from nodes split longitudinally and plated on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 5 μM 6-benzyl amino purine and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Both species possess a single axillary bud that generated multiple plants on division. Rooting of shoots was achieved in half-strength MS medium with and without the addition of 0.4 μM indole-3-butyric acid and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Nodes and younger branches of the tetraploid generated significantly more plants than those of the diploid.