Enhanced shoot regeneration from homogenized callus cultures of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)

A homogenization and plating technique is described which increases the number of shoots produced and decreases the time required for plant regeneration from callus cultures of birdsfoot trefoil. A 2- to 15-fold increase in the number of plants recovered per gram of callus is observed depending on the genotype. Characterization of a sample of the regenerated plants indicated no differences between plants from homogenized versus nonhomogenized callus for traits such as time of first flower, number of branches per plant, pollen stainability, stomate length, and whole plant yield. The technique has proven useful for efficient recovery of plants from long-term cultures and cultures selected for herbicide tolerance where a 15-fold increase in plant regeneration was obtained.