Direct and indirect shoot and bulblet regeneration from cultured leaf explants of Lilium pumilum,an endangered species

Alternative methods of in vitro cloning that involve both adventitious (direct) and callus intermediate (indirect) pathways were investigated for the endangered species Lilium pumilum. Plantlet regeneration was obtained from leaf explants, cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with various combinations of auxins and cytokinins at different concentrations. About 30% of the explants directly formed adventitious shoots on MS medium containing 8.88 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2.69 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). For production of regenerable callus, callus formation followed by shoot induction was best when explants were initially cultured on MS medium supplemented with 9.05 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Regenerable calli were yellow or purple and readily regenerated shoots when subcultured onto MS medium containing 2.22 μM BA and 1.61 μM NAA. About 78% of the calli were able to produce adventitious shoots. Shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.34 μM NAA and were successfully acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. This report describes an efficient method for the in vitro multiplication of whole plants from leaf explants of the endangered species L. pumilum.     

Optimisation of plantlet regeneration from leaf and nodal derived callus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vanilla planifolia</Emphasis> Andrews

An indirect in vitro plant regeneration protocol for Vanilla planifolia has been established. Juvenile leaf and nodal segments from V. planifolia were used as explants to initiate callus. Nodal explants showed better callus initiation than juvenile leaf explants, with 35.0% of explants forming callus when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and 1.0 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA). Almost 10.0% of juvenile leaf explants were induced to form callus on the MS basal medium containing 2.0 mg/l NAA and 2.0 mg/l BA, whereas no callus formed in the presence of any concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and BA. After 8 weeks, callus generated was transferred to MS basal medium containing 1.0 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l NAA. A mean number of 4.2 shoots per callus was produced on this medium, with a mean length of 3.8 cm after 8 weeks of culture. Roots formed on 88.3% of plantlets when they were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l NAA, with a mean length of 4.4 cm after 4 weeks of culture. Of the rooted plantlets, 90.0% survived acclimatisation and were making new growth after 4 weeks.     

Antioxidant activity evaluation of essential oil and RAPD analysis of in vitro regenerated Blumea mollis (D. Don) Merr.

Essential oil obtained from the leaves of Blumea mollis (D. Don) Merr. was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC and GC–MS). Bicyclic sesquiterpene, β-caryophyllene, was identified as a major compound which accounted for 24.54 %. Antioxidant activity of oil was significantly higher than that of methanol extract of callus. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.4 μM BA showed multiple shoot induction after 8 weeks of culture. 4.6 μM Kin showed in vitro flowering and direct organogenesis was observed from the leaf explants on medium containing 4.4 μM BA and 5.4 μM NAA. Rooted plantlets developed on half strength MS medium fortified with 2.1 μM IBA were hardened and percentage survival was recorded up to 70. RAPD analysis revealed a little genetic variation in micropropagated plants.     

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in Styrian pumpkin: cytological and biochemical investigations

Somatic embryo formation was induced from cotyledon explants of Styrian pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. subsp. pepo var. styriaca Greb.) by using a solid MS medium supplemented with 16.11?μM NAA and 4.44?μM BA or 26.85?μM NAA and 13.32?μM BA. The callus proliferation was more efficient on medium supplemented with 26.85?μM NAA and 13.32?μM BA. In contrast, the embryogenic response was higher on medium with lower concentrations of growth regulators (16.11?μM NAA and 4.44?μM BA). The time needed for embryo induction did not depend on medium composition. Embryos in globular stage were transferred to three different maturation media, containing 2.89?μM GA₃ in combination with 0.54?μM NAA, 11.42?μM IAA and growth regulator-free medium. The germination rate was the highest when embryos were cultured on medium with 11.42?μM IAA. Plantlets grown on this medium achieved maturity suitable for transplantation into soil within 9 to 10?weeks. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred into field and developed fertile flowers and set fruits. Biochemical analysis showed significant lower total glutathione levels among in vitro grown plantlets compared to seedlings grown in soil. When the plantlets were transferred into soil, they reached a normal size within a month and the glutathione concentration was comparable to seed-derived plants at the same developmental stage. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate possible differences in the ultrastructure of cells from callus cultures, and leaf cells of regenerated and seed-derived plants. Differences in the ultrastructure were found within chloroplasts which contained only single thylakoids, large starch grains and small plastoglobuli in callus cells in comparison to leaf cells, which possessed a well developed thylakoid system, small starch grains and large plastoglobuli.     

廊坊杨3号快繁和转基因的再生系统

对杂交杨树新品种廊坊杨3号（Populus langfangensis 3,(P. deltoides (“Shan Hai Guan”)×((P. simonii × pyramidalys)₁₂×Ulmus pumila) 的离体叶片和茎段在附加BA、NAA、IBA和2,4-D的MS培养基上的直接和间接的器官分化、愈伤组织形成和植株再生进行了研究。叶柄和叶片最容易在叶脉处直接诱导生芽。从叶片直接诱导生芽的激素条件为1～2 mg·L^-1 BA和0.5 mg·L^-1 IBA,最高生芽率可达90%。2,4-D促进愈伤组织的形成。由愈伤组织诱导生芽的激素条件为0.3～0.5 mg·L^-1 BA 和 0.02 mg·L^-1 IBA或NAA,生芽率达76%。较好的生根条件为0.1 mg·L^-1 BA和0.2～0.5 mg·L^-1 IBA,生根率可达67％。以上再生条件为廊坊杨3号的转基因育种和无性快繁技术提供了可能。     

长柄双花木愈伤组织诱导及植株再生

以长柄双花木当年生嫩梢上的叶柄、嫩茎、嫩叶为外植体,对影响长柄双花木愈伤组织诱导和继代、分化主要因素进行研究。结果表明:在培养基MS+NAA0.5mg/L+2,4-D2.0mg/L上,三种外植体均可诱导出愈伤组织,其中叶片愈伤组织诱导率最高。该培养基还可作为愈伤组织继代培养基,但继代培养周期不超过2周。愈伤组织接种在MS+BA2mg/L上分化不定芽,根的诱导在1/2MS+IBA0.5mg/L培养基上进行。     

Organogenesis, shoot regeneration, and flowering response of Vernonia cinerea to different auxin/cytokinin combinations

Summary A viable protocol has been developed for direct and indirect shoot regeneration of Vernonia cinerea. To establish a stable and high-frequency plant regeneration system, leaf and stem explants were tested with different combinations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and benzylaminopurine (BA). Lateral buds on nodal explants grew into shoots within 2 wk of culture in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 20.9 μM BA. Excision and culture of nodal segments from in vitro-raised shoots on fresh medium with the same concentration of BA facilitated development of more than 15 shoots per node. Similarly leaf, nodal, and internodal explants were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA, NAA, and IAA either alone or in combinations for callus induction and organogenesis. Shoot buds and/or roots were regenerated on callus. Shoot buds formed multiple shoots within 4 wk after incubation in induction medium. Adventitious buds and shoots proliferated when callus was cut into pieces and subcultured on MS basal medium containing 20.9 μM BA and 5.3 μM NAA. This combination proved to be the best medium for enhanced adventitious shoot bud multiplication, generating a maximum of 50 shoots in 4 wk. This medium was also used successfully for shoot proliferation in liquid medium. Root formation was observed from callus induced in medium containing 8.05–13.4 μM NAA. Regenerated shoots exhibited flowering and root formation in MS basal medium without any growth regulators. Plantlets established in the field showed 85% survival and exhibited identical morphological characteristics as the donor plant.     

Cardenolide estimation in callus-mediated regenerants of Digitalis lamarckii Ivanina (dwarf foxglove)

Digitalis cardenolides can regulate heart rhythms and are effective agents in cancer chemotherapy, in particular, for treating prostate and breast cancer. In this study, an optimized and efficient plant tissue culture protocol was established using callus cultures of Digitalis lamarckii Ivanina, commonly known as dwarf foxglove. Lamina explants developed callus when cultured on Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA; 4.4, 13.3, or 22.2 μM) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 2.7, 5.4, or 10.8 μM). The highest incidence of callus formation (100%) was achieved on LS medium containing 13.3 μM BA and 10.8 μM NAA. Indirect shoot regeneration was achieved when the callus explants were cultured on LS medium supplemented with varying concentrations of BA (0.4, 1.1, or 2.2 μM) and/or gibberellic acid (0.7 or 1.4 μM) for 8 wk. Following the rooting of shoots on LS medium supplemented with either indole-3-acetic acid (ranging from 1.4 to 5.7 μM) or NAA (1.3 to 5.2 μM), lamina and petiole tissues of the 4-mo-old regenerated plants were compared for their cardenolide contents. Lamina extracts showed nearly three times higher cardenolide accumulation than petiole extracts. Of the cardenolides analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, neo-odorobioside G and glucogitoroside were abundant in lamina extracts (170.3 and 143.9 mg/kg dry weight, respectively). The regeneration protocol described in this study can be used for the in vitro production of certain cardenolides from D. lamarckii.     

Direct regeneration from in vitro leaf and petiole tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tremula</Emphasis> ‘Erecta’

Dormant buds from a mature tree of Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ were incubated on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 μM thidiazuron (TDZ). Induced shoots were then proliferated on medium of MS or Woody Plant Medium (WPM), or Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) supplemented with varying levels of benzyladenine (BA). Overall, shoots grown on MS medium supplemented with 1.25–2.5 μM BA exhibited the highest frequency of shoot proliferation (>95%) and more than 60% of responding explants produced more than five shoots per explant. Shoot organogenesis was induced from both leaf and petiole explants incubated on WPM medium containing BA, or TDZ, or zeatin. Among the different cytokinins tested, zeatin induced the highest frequency (average 72.1%) of shoot organogenesis. None of explants survived on media containing no cytokinins within 6–8 weeks following culture. Overall, a higher frequency of shoot regeneration was obtained from petioles than from leaf explants. The highest frequency of regeneration was achieved when petioles were incubated on WPM containing 10–20 μM zeatin. Addition of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) did not have a significant effect on shoot regeneration in all treatments. Shoot organogenesis was directly induced from petiole explants without intervening callus. Regenerated shoots were easily rooted on all tested media supplemented with 0.5 μM NAA. Rooted plants were transferred to potting mix and grown in the greenhouse.     

High frequency shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in juvenile and adult tissues of seabuckthorn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippophae rhamnoides</Emphasis> L.)

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a multipurpose small tree with unique berries of high nutritional and pharmaceutical values. A clonally propagated plant originating from a 20-year-old tree of H. r. rhamnoides × mongolica hybrid cultivar Julia and seedling offspring of this cultivar were investigated regarding induction of shoot organogenesis in leaf explants and in roots of intact seedlings, and induction of direct somatic embryogenesis in explants from shoot tissue. The highest percentage of leaf explants showing shoot organogenesis was achieved (juvenile explants, 65%; adult explants, 75%) when incubated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with either 4.5 μM of the phenylurea cytokinin thidiazuron (TDZ) or 2.25 μM TDZ plus 2.2 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), for juvenile and adult explants, respectively, both supplemented with 0.53 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Juvenile explants developed on average 18 shoots per explant in the MS medium supplemented with 4.5 μM TDZ, a four fold increase over those incubated on the medium supplemented with 2.25 μM TDZ and 2.2 μM BA. Adult leaf explants grown on medium containing 2.25 μM TDZ and 2.2 μM BA medium produced 12 shoots per explant, while those grown on medium containing 4.5 μM TDZ produced 5 shoots per explant. Shoot organogenesis was observed in roots of intact seedlings pre-cultured on plain medium lacking nutrients (PM) or woody plant medium (WPM) salts and then grown on WPM salts supplemented with 4.4 μM BA, 0.29 μM gibberrelic acid (GA3), and 57.0 μM indoleacetic acid (IAA). The number of shoots formed on each seedling root system was ten fold higher when the pre-culture was in WPM medium indicating a promoting effect of mineral nutrients in the pre-culture medium. Somatic embryogenesis was induced in both juvenile and adult leaf explants in 65 and 78% of the explants, respectively, in MS-based medium supplemented with 2.0 μM N-(2-Chloro-4-pyridyl)-N ¹-phenylurea (CPPU), 0.53 μM NAA and varying concentrations of BA. There was an interaction effect between MS salt strength and BA concentration. The most effective medium for inducing somatic embryogenesis in juvenile explants contained half strength MS salts and 2.2 μM BA and full strength MS salts and 13.2 μM BA for adult explants.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> propagation of an endangered plant species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermopsis turcica</Emphasis> (Fabaceae)

This report deals with micropropagation of the critically endangered and endemic Turkish shrub, Thermopsis turcica using callus, root and cotyledonary explants. Callus cultures were initiated from root and cotyledon explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5–20 μM NAA or 2,4-D. The root explants were found to be better in terms of quick responding and callusing percentages as compared to the cotyledons. Organogenic callus production with adventitious roots and shoots were obtained on MS medium with only NAA. The calli obtained with NAA, root and cotyledonary explants were cultured with BA and kinetin (2–8 μM) alone or in combination with a low level (0.5 μM) of 2,4-D or NAA. The best regeneration of shoots from root explants was observed on hormone-free MS medium. NAA with BA or kinetin in the medium improved shoot induction from the calli obtained with NAA. Maximum percentage of shoots (93.3%), maximum number of shoots (6.2) and maximun length of shoots (8.22 cm) were achieved from cotyledonary explants at 4 μM BA and 0.5 μM NAA. The presence of 0.5 μM or higher levels of 2,4-D in shoot induction medium inhibited the regeneration in T. turcica explants. 83% of in vitro rooting was attained on pulsed-IBA treated shoots. The regenerated plants with well developed shoots and roots were successfully acclimatized. Application of this study’s results has the potential to conserve T. turcica from extinction.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from root segments of Psoralea corylifolia L., an endangered medicinally important plant

Summary An efficient plant regeneration protocol has been developed from root explants of Psoralea corylifolia L., an endangered medicinally important herbaceous plant species belonging to the family Fabaceae. Nodular embryogenic callus was initiated from young root segments cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1962) supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 2.68–13.42 μM) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D; 2.25–11.25 μM) in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA: 2.2. μM). thiamine HCl (2.9 μM), L-glutamine (342.23 μM) and sucrose (3.0% w/v). The highest frequency (95.2%) of embryogenic calluses was obtained on MS medium supplemented with the growth regulators NAA (10.74 μM) and BA (2.2 μM). Development and maturation of somatic embryos was achieved after transfer of embryogenic calluses to MS medium supplemented with 1.34 μM NAA or 1.12 μM 2,4-D and 4.4–13.2 μM BA. The maximum number (13.8±1.34) of cotyledonary stage somatic embryos was obtained on MS medium containing 1.34 μM NAA and 13.2 μM BA. Germination of somatic embryos occurred on MS medium without any growth regulators and also on MS medium enriched with BA (1.1–8.8 μM), although the maximum germination frequency (76.1%) was obtained on 4.4 μM BA plus 1.45 μM gibberellic acid (GA₃). Plant regeneration without complete somatic embryo maturation was also achieved by transferring clumps of nodular embryogenic calluses onto MSO medium or MS medium supplemented with NAA (1.34 μM) and BA (2.2–8.8 μM). The highest frequency of plant regeneration (93.3%) and mean number of plantlets (15.4±0.88) were obtained on MS medium containing 1.34 μM NAA and 4.4 μM BA. Regenerated plants with well-developed root systems were transferred to pots where they grew vigorously, attained maturity and produced fertile seeds.     

In vitro culture ofXanthium strumarium (Cocklebur)

Xanthium strumarium L. was micropropagated by rooting shoots proliferated from shoot-tip explants. The best shoot proliferation was obtained from explants growing on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 4.4 to 8.9 M benzyladenine (BA) and 1.1 to 2.1 M naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The micropropagated plants were transferred to potting media and maintained under high humidity conditions in the greenhouse. The media that produced best shoot proliferation from shoot-tip explants also produced the most callus from hypotocotyl, cotyledon and shoot-tip explants, whereas more callus was produced on leaf explants with a lower BA concentration (1.1 M) and 1.1 M NAA.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine, 2 4-d-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog Technical contribution No. 3319 of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson University.     

Genetic fidelity assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>-regenerated plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Albizia julibrissin</Emphasis> using SCoT and IRAP fingerprinting

A protocol was established for callus induction and plant regeneration of Albizia julibrissin Durazz., a multipurpose tree. Calli were induced on hypocotyl explants excised from 10- to 14-d-old in vitro seedlings cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) alone or in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin). The highest frequency of organogenic callus (82.2?±?3.6%) was obtained on MS medium with 10.8 μM NAA and 4.4 μM BA. Calli were then cultured on MS medium with BA or zeatin, singly or in combination, for shoot regeneration. Calli cultured on MS medium with 13.2 μM BA and 4.6 μM zeatin produced the highest frequency of adventitious shoot regeneration (75.3?±?6.3%). Maximum rooting of shoots (73.3?±?5%) was achieved using half-strength MS medium with 4.9 μM indole-3-butyric acid. The genetic fidelity of 12 plants acclimatized to the greenhouse was assessed based on analyses of start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism and inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP). The 14 SCoT and 7 IRAP adapted primers produced 71 and 34 scoreable fragments, of which 33 (46%) and 12 (35%) were polymorphic, respectively. The in vitro-raised plants exhibited 0.129–0.438 genetic distance from the mother plant and 0.000–0.788 distance from one another according to the SCoT and IRAP analyses. Although the culture method described here may not be suitable for clonal propagation of elite genotypes, it can be used for conservation of this plant.     

Production of glycyrrhizin in callus cultures of licorice

Licorice plants, Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata, were investigated for callus induction using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium combined with auxins and cytokinins. After 4 weeks of culture, 33-100% of leaf or stem explants formed calli. Maximum of shoot induction from callus cultures was achieved by G. inflata stem explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA) (67%) which also gave maximum shoot formation per explant (two shoots per explant). These results indicated that all three Glycyrrhiza species regenerated shoots from callus cultures on MS medium combined with NAA and BA or only thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l). Glycyrrhizin contents of G. uralensis calli induced using MS medium in combination with NAA and BA [(27.60 +/- 8.47) microg/g DW] or TDZ alone [(36.52 +/- 2.45) microg/ g DW] were higher than those found in other combinations.     

Factors affecting plantlet regeneration from in vitro cultured immature embryos and cotyledons of Prunus mume “Xue mei”

Using immature embryos and cotyledons as explants, a successful immature embryo culture and efficient plant direct regeneration via organogenesis from cotyledons, which showed different patterns, was established for the “Xuemei” cultivar of Prunus mume. For immature embryo culture, high frequency plantlet forming (89.5%) from embryo axis was obtained on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (½MS) medium supplemented with 13.2 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2.7 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic (NAA). At the same time, shoots direct differentiation from cotyledons with the embryo axis development was also observed on ½MS medium containing 2.2 μM BA together with different combinations of NAA (2.7, 5.4 μM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0, 2.5, 5.0 μM). Better results were achieved when embryo axes were removed from cotyledons and cultured on ½MS medium supplement with 13.2 μM BA, 2.7 μM NAA (72.9%) or 2.2 μM BA, 2.2 μM thidiazuron (TDZ), and 2.7 μM NAA (84.2%), respectively. Regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on ½MS or Woody Plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 2.5–5.0 μM IBA. The effect of embryo axes, BA and TDZ, on cotyledons’ regeneration were investigated in detail. The rooted plantlets were transferred to soil successfully with normal morphology.     

Somatic embryogenesis,organogenesis, and regeneration from leaf callus culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Decalepis hamiltonii</Emphasis> Wight &; Arn., an endangered shrub

Summary A novel protocol has been developed for inducing somatic embryogenesis from leaf cultures of Decalepis hamiltonii. Callus was obtained from leaf sections in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)+N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)+BA. Nodular embryogenic callus developed from the cut end of explants on media containing 2,4-D and BA, whereas compact callus developed on media containing NAA and BA. Upon subsequent transfer of explants with primary callus onto MS media containing zeatin and/or gibberellic acid (GA₃) and BA, treatment with zeatin (13.68μM) and BA (10.65 μM) resulted in the induction of the highest number of somatic embryos directly from nodular tissue. The maturation of embryos took place along with the induction on the same medium. Embryogenic calluses with somatic embryos were subcultured onto MS basal medium supplemented with 4.56μM zeatin+10.65 μM BA. After 4wk, more extensive differentiation of somatic embryos was observed. The mature embryos developed into complete plantlets on growth regulator-free MS medium. A distinct feature of this study is the induction of somatic embryogenesis from leaf explants of Decalepis hamiltonii, which has not been reported previously. By using this protocol, complete plantlets could be regenerated through indirect somatic embryogenesis or organogenesis from leaf explants in 12–16 wk.     

Genetic transformation ofEustoma grandiflorum byAgrobacterium tumefaciens

Callus cultures were initiated from micropropagated Artemisia absinthium plantlets on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA, Kn, NAA, IAA and 2,4-d in combination or singly. Supplementing the medium with low doses of both BA in combination with NAA, and Kn in combination with NAA enhanced the growth rate of callus cultures. However, cultures grew slowly following the second subculture and the majority turned brown and died within the next month. Initiation of root and shoot primordia occured directly from leaf explants cultured on 1.81 M 2,4-d, while adventitious shoot formation from callus was observed occasionally when BA was added to the medium in combination with IAA. Furthermore, medium containing 2.22 M BA and 2.69 M NAA stimulated both callus growth and organogenesis on some callus cultures derived from leaves and stems of young stock material. The best results were obtained with leaf explants. Cytological analysis of root meristems revealed that all regenerants were diploid (2n=18), as expected.Abbreviations MS Murashige & Skoog's salts and vitamins (1962) - BA 6-benzyladenine - NAA alphanaphthaleneacetic acid - Kn Kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - FW fresh weight - Bi biomass increase     

Comparison of in vitro regeneration pathways in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Punica granatum</Emphasis> L.

When cotyledonary explants, excised from in vitro germinated seedlings, of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) were incubated on solid Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 21 μM naptheleneacetic acid (NAA) and 9 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), 80% of explants developed callus. A high frequency of shoot organogensis was obtained when explants were incubated on MS medium supplemented with 8 μM BA, 6 μM NAA, and 6 μM giberrellic acid (GA₃). However, adding 24 μM silver nitrate (AgNO₃) to this medium markedly enhanced shoot regeneration frequency (63%) and mean number of shoots per explant (11.26) and length of shoots (2.22 cm). Highest frequency of in vitro rooting, mean number of roots/shoot (4.32), and mean root length (2.71 cm) were obtained when regenerated shoots were transferred to half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.02% activated charcoal. Well-rooted plantlets were acclimatized, and then transferred to soil medium. Moreover, when zygotic embryos of P. granatum, excised from seeds collected at 16 weeks following full bloom, were incubated on MS medium containing 30 g l⁻¹ sucrose, 15% coconut water, 21 μM NAA, and 9 μM BA, they developed the highest frequency of embryogenic callus, clumps with globular embryos, and mean number of both globular and heart-shaped embryos per callus clump. Subjecting zygotic embryo explants to six-week dark incubation period was essential for embryogenic callus induction, and these were subsequently transferred to 16 h photoperiod for further growth and development of somatic embryos. Germination of somatic embryos was observed when these were transferred to MS medium was supplemented with 60 g l⁻¹ sucrose.     

In vitro adventitious shoot formation from leaf cultures of Clerodendrum inerme (L) Gaertn.

In vitro adventitious shoots (about 28) of Clerodendrum inerme were regenerated from leaf segments on MS medium containing BA (4 mg/L). These shoots developed directly from the leaf explants without callusing after 5 weeks. Leaf explant when cultured in MS medium containing BA (2 mg/L) and NAA (0.5 mg/L) developed compact callus that became nodular and regenerated shoots (about 50) after 5 weeks. The in vitro developed shoots were rooted in MS medium supplemented with IAA (2 mg/L). The hardened plantlets were successfully established in the field with 90% survival.