In Vitro Shoot Regeneration from Callus, Leaf Axils and Petioles of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Procedures are described for producing axillary shoots fromseedling apices and adventitious shoots from petioles and leaf-derivedcallus of sugar beet cultivars. The rate of adventitious shootregeneration from petioles was influenced by temperature, BAPconcentration of the medium, and the time in culture of theseedling apices from which the petioles were excised. Petiolesectioning confirmed that adventitious shoots originated inthe sub-epidermal parenchyma. Two distinct types of callus wereproduced from leaf explants, but only white friable callus wascapable of shoot development. This callus developed from browntissue and was composed of thin-walled cells with dense cytoplasmand prominent nuclei. Green compact callus with thick-walledlignified cells developed from green tissue, but did not produceshoots. Successful seed sterilization and shoot regenerationfrom petiole explants and callus was cultivar-dependent. Adventitiousshoots were rooted and successfully transplanted to pottingcompost under glasshouse conditions. Key words: Adventitious shoots, axillary shoots, callus, sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)