GROWTH OF EDIBLE CHLOROPHYLLOUS PLANT TISSUES IN VITRO

Hildebrandt, A. C, J. C. Wilmar, H. Johns, and A. J. Riker. (U. Wisconsin, Madison.) Growth of edible chlorophyllous plant tissues in vitro, Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(3): 248–254. Illus. 1963.—Plant callus cultures were attempted from roots, stems, leaves or excised embryos of 32 species of plants on a basal mineral salts–sucrose agar medium (T-medium), on T-medium + coconut milk + α-naphthaleneacetic acid + calcium pantothenate (C-medium) and on C-medium + 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (D-medium). Embryos on T- or C-medium generally produced normal plants, while on D-medium, they often produced callus only. Fresh isolates of carrot, endive, lettuce, parsley, red kidney bean, and navy bean gave moderate to excellent callus on C-medium. Parsley and navy bean also produced excellent callus on D-medium. Strains of callus from potato, tomato, grape and rose also grew well on C- or D-medium. In the light, red pigmentation developed on rose, parsley, and grape callus. Chlorophyll formation was inhibited on D-medium, but on C-medium more or less chlorophyll was initiated in callus from carrot, endive, lettuce, pea, potato and certain rose varieties. Chlorophyll formation was also strong in endive callus on T-medium supplemented with casein hydrolysate, i-inositol and NAA. The amount and type of sugar used in C-medium influenced the amount of growth and were critical in relation to chlorophyll formation. Carrot tissues in constant light produced abundant chlorophyll and were still growing on media without added sugar after 6 weeks.