Abstract:Dry seeds of two rice cultivars were treated with gamma-rays (0-40 kR),EMS (0-0.4M)and SA (0-4mM) and then inoculated in N6 medium containing 0.5mg/l 2,4-D,4mg/l NAA and 2mg/l 6-BA to induce callus.Growth and differentiation‘ of the callus treated rice seeds were observed in subsequent subcultures.Decreased callus induction percentages were observed in treatments with gamma-rays,EMS and SA,but the mu-tagenic treatments did not reduce the mean weight of primary calli except that the seeds were irradiated with gamma-rays.Moreover,up to 3-fold increase in callus growth rate was shown after treatments of the three mu-tagenic agents.Higher proportion of calli with green spots or small shoots was also seen in one cultivar treated with the three mutagens.Signif icant increase in plant regeneration capacity was found in 60-day-old calli derived from gamma-rays or EMS-treated rice seeds in one cultivar.The results suggested that the following dose or concentration can be used for explant treatment in indica rice before culture,gamma-rays.5-10kR,EMS.<0.2M and SA:2-4mM.