Qualitative Assessment of Aromatic Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Proteins, Lipids and Starch in Grain from Somatic Embryo- and Seed-Derived Plants

A reproducible system has been developed for efficient plant regeneration, through somatic embryogenesis, from callus derived from mature seed scutella of the aromatic indica rice cultivar Pusa Basmati 1. Protein, lipid and starch contents of the grain (seeds) of somatic embryo-derived (R0) and seed-derived glasshouse- grown plants, were evaluated histochemically and using analytical procedures. Protein was most abundant in the sub-aleurone layers, but was also present in aleurone cells. Lipid was localised in the embryo and aleurone cells; starch granules were evenly and abundantly distributed in the endosperm cells, although smaller in size near the periphery of the endosperm. Histochemically, the distribution of storage products was similar in somatic embryo- and seed-derived plants. The lipid contents were similar for grains from the two plant populations, but starch content was higher (2 %) for somatic embryo-derived plants; protein content was higher (2 %) for seed-derived plants. In contrast, for R1 generation plants, there were no significant differences in protein, lipid and carbohydrate components of grain obtained from somatic embryo- and seed-derived plants. These studies form an important baseline for more detailed determinations of the nutritional status of grain produced by transgenic rice plants.