MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seeds of indica rice were taken and dehusked manually and were washed with detergent, surface sterilized in 20 percent (V/V) commercial bleach (NaOCl) for 30 minutes with constant shaking. Seeds were washed several times with sterilized distilled water. These explants were placed in jars containing callus induction media with combination of 3 percent sucrose and 0.5, 1.0, 2.0. and 4.0 mg/I 2, 4-D separately. Media were also prepared with 2 mg/I 2,4-D in combination with Benzyl adenine (BA) 0.5, 1.0, 2.09 and 4.0 mg/I respectively. Cultures were incubated in both light and dark conditions.

Data were recorded after two weeks of culturing upto 5 weeks on callus initiation and number of calli produce to computer callus percentage. After 4-5 weeks the developing calli were placed on maintenance media for proliferation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of Auxin concentration for callus initiation: Data collected in relation to callus induction frequency as affected by various levels of 2,4-0 (Auxin) are presented in Table 1 and Fig. 1. Callus induction in relation to dose of 4 mg/I 2,4-D indicated significant superiority over other doses of 2,4-D. Superiority of 4 mg/I 2,4-D could be attributed to higher doses of 2,4-D than lower doses of 2,4-D in other treatments.

From the results it is clear that with the gradual increase of 2,4-D concentration in callus induction medium these was gradual increase in callus initiation frequency. In some cases it was noted that on sub-culturing calli exuded certain phenolic compounds and turned brown. Friable and nodular calli arose from primary calli during subculturing which were both embryogenic and non embryogenic and white to yellow in colour. It is quite possible that genotypic specificity of each explant might be responsible in the control of such developmental changes in callus morphology (Table 3). Similar role of 2,4-D in callus induction has also been observed by (Lupotto, 1984; Mohanty and Ghosh, 1988; Hartke and Lorz, 1989; Zafar et al., 1992).

Effect of Auxin-Cytokinin combinations for callus initiation: Comparison was made between different levels of 2,4-D separately and in combination with BA for callus initiation (Table 2, Fig. 2). From the results it is clear that 2 mg/I 2,4-(control) showed significant superiority for callus induction efficiency over all combinations having various doses of BA in combination with 2,4-D (2 ml/l). It is strange to note that different doses of BA with 2, 4-D behaved in different fashion. As it is obvious from the data that as the BA concentration is increased there was a decrease in callus induction frequency.

Table 1:	Callus initiation percentage in Oryza sativa L. (rice) CV-DM 25 As affected by different levels of auxin in MS medium

Table 2:	Callus initiation percentage in Oryza sativa L. (rice) CV-DM-25 as affected by different combinations of auxin-cytokinin in MS medium

Table 3:	Response -of embryo-derived callus cultured on different media
MSO, MS0.5, MS2 and MS4 indicate MS basal medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/I 2, 4-D MS2B0.5, MS2B1, MS2B2 and MS2B4 indicate MS medium having 2 mg/I 2, 4-D and 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4 mg/l BA

Fig. 1:	Callus initiation percentage in Oryza sativa L. CV. DM-25 as affected by different levels of auxin

Fig. 2:	Callus initiation percentage in Oryza sativa L. CV. DM-25 as affected by different combinations of auxin-cytokinin

Although callusing frequency was lower in media having both 2, 4-D and BA as compared to media having only 2, 4-D, but the frequency of embryogenic callus formation was higher in the former (Wang and Yan, 1984; Chu et al., 1984; Boyes and Vasil, 1984; MacKinnon et al., 1986; George and Eapen, 1988), It appears that low level of BA worked better in combination with 2, 4-D than higher doses of BA and any further gradual increase of BA in the media might imparted declining effects.

The range of differences between these doses is rather narrow to pin down the verdict of antagonism or toxicity of PGR at that level. Inferiority of certain doses could also be attributed to the impact of interactions of 2,4-D and BA. May be, the results become prominent if some lower doses are utilized. It is logical that the lower doses of BA favoured rather than producing antagonistic effect with 2, 4-D. Further studies are needed to find out the possibility of having more embryogenic cultures by decreasing BA concentration in combination with 2, 4-D in the callus induction medium.