High frequency plant regeneration of garlic (Allium sativum L.) calli immobilized in calcium alginate gel

Calli obtained from a shoot-tip of garlic,Allium sativum L., were encapsulated using a calcium alginate gel. Some of the encapsulated calli were cultured on a 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 10⁻⁵ M kinetin, and 5×10⁻⁶ M NAA, whereas the remainder was stored for 40 days at 4°C. All the naked calli regenerated on the solid medium, while 95% of the encapsulated calli regenerated, and 88% of the encapsulated calli regenerated after 40 days of storage at 4°C. The capsule matrix delayed the germination time of the encapsulated calli, yet activated the shoot formation of the artificial garlic seeds. The shoot length of the encapsulated garlic calli was much longer than that of the naked garlic calli. The encapsulated garlic calli were dried in a laminar airflow cabinet and the conversion frequency of the dried artificial garlic seeds on a 1/2 MS medium remained at 93% with a water loss of less than 50%.