Shoot tips of
Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Turbo and Nandu, both summer wheat varieties, were excised from 4 and 10 day-old seedlings, and used for induction of embryogenic callus. A modified L3 medium, supplemented with 10

M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-
d) for culture initiation, and 5

M 2,4-
d for subculturing, was optimal; 90% of 4 day-old

Turbo

seedlings formed embryogenic callus. Optimal plant regeneration was achieved from callus incubated on a modified MS medium without 2,4-
d, but supplemented with 2.22

M 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.27

M naphthaleneacetic acid. Plantlets formed via embryogenesis from all embryogenic

Turbo

calli initiated from 4 day-old explants, with a mean number of 8 regenerants per explant. Regeneration occured via embryogenesis only. Results obtained using

Nandu

were within the same range.
Key words clonal propagation - somatic embryogenesis - shoot tip -
Triticum aestivum L.