The problem of the regeneration of plants from maize anther-culture-derived callus lines either by organogenesis or by somatic embryogenesis has been perplexing. In the last few years a number of maize callus lines had been selected and maintained by subculturing. During this period it was observed that most of them lost their capacity of proliferation after one or two years. However, several promising lines did show persistent vigor and prolificity.

In the last year, two of these continually grown callus lines, 81-85 and SAN1, were subjected to a regeneration test with the application of l-proline. These lines were chosen because they always provided abundant materials. According to the recommendations of Green et al. (Advances in Gene Technology: Molecular Genetics of Plants and Animals, 1983) and Rapela (J. Plant Physiol., 1985) varying amounts of the amino acid were employed. After repeated experiments, it was consistently revealed that no apparent difference occurred between the calluses grown on proline medium and those grown on control medium without proline. Hence, it appears tenable to say that the positive response of the maize calluses reported by Green et al. and Rapela to the proline regeneration medium is of genetic control. Our callus lines have a different genetic background from that of theirs.

Y.C. Ting and Stephen Schneider

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