Combination of thidiazuron and 2-isopentenyladenine promotes highly efficient adventitious shoot regeneration from cotyledons of mature sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds

Genetic improvement of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) through the use of biotechnological tools requires a reliable in vitro shoot regeneration system. Tissue culture protocols reported to date for sunflower suffer from low efficiency, poor reproducibility, genotype dependence and a tendency for flowering in vitro. The present study describes an efficient protocol system for shoot regeneration via direct adventitious shoot organogenesis from cotyledons of mature seeds of sunflower. About 169 media combinations comprising 12 different growth regulator combinations in various concentrations were assessed for induction of shoots from cotyledons derived from mature seeds and also from seedling tissues of 2?C20-day-old seedlings. Appearance of shoots from seedling tissues was sporadic and the frequency of shoot regeneration was low. Cotyledon explants from mature seeds were consistent with regard to frequency of adventitious shoot regeneration and number of shoots per explant. A high frequency (93.86?%) of adventitious shoot regeneration was obtained within 2?weeks of culture initiation on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 9.84???M 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP), 2.85???M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.45???M thidiazuron (TDZ). Use of 2-iP in the shoot induction and elongation media prevented precocious flowering. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects of explant orientation, age of seedlings, and genotype on adventitious organogenesis. Maximum shoot regeneration was obtained when cotyledons from 0 and 1-day-old seedlings were placed with their adaxial surface in contact with the medium surface. The protocol developed was tested on 42 genotypes and found to be applicable to a wide range of genotypes. Histological studies indicated that the shoots originated predominantly through adventive organogenesis from the sub-epidermal and cortical regions.     

Thidiazuron-induced organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Summary Improved in vitro tissue culture systems are needed to facilitate the application of recombinant DNA technology to the improvement of sugar beet germplasm. The effects of N ⁶-benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) pretreatment on adventitious shoot and somatic embryogenesis regeneration were evaluated in a range of sugar beet breeding lines and commercial varieties. Petiole explants showed higher frequencies of direct adventitious shoot formation and produced more shoots per explant than leaf lamina explants. TDZ was more effective than BA for the promotion of shoot formation. The optimal TDZ concentrations were 2.3–4.6 μM for the induction of adventitious shoot regeneration. Direct somatic embryogenesis from intact seedlings could be induced by either BA or TDZ. TDZ-induced somatic embryogenesis occurred on the lower surface of cotyledons at concentrations of 0.5–2μM and was less genotype-dependent than with Ba. A high frequency of callus induction could be obtained from seedlings and leaf explants, but only a few of the calluses derived from leaf explants could regenerate to plants via indirect somatic embryogenesis. These results demonstrated that TDZ could prove to be a more effective cytokinin for in vitro culture of sugar beet than BA. Rapid and efficient regeneration of plants using TDZ may provide a route for the production of transgenic sugar beet following Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.     

Enhanced shoot organogenesis in Cassia angustifolia Vahl. — a difficult-to-root drought resistant medicinal shrub

In vitro regeneration was achieved through callus culture derived from cotyledon explants of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. on MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium. Calli were induced from cotyledon explants excised from aseptic 14?days old seedlings on MS medium containing 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid) at different concentrations with 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Optimal growth of callus was obtained at 5.0???M 2,4-D, which was proved to be the best for shoot regeneration when sub cultured onto MS medium supplemented with cytokinins either alone or in combination with an auxin. Maximum number of shoots (23.2?±?1.4) were produced at 5.0???M 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.4???M ??-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Regenerated shoots produced prominent roots when transferred to half strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0???M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 5.0???M phloroglucinol (PG). Rooted plantlets thus developed were hardened and successfully established in the soil. This protocol yielded an average of 23 plants per cotyledon explant over a period of 4?months.     

In vitro propagation of Cuphea procumbens Orteg. and Evaluation of genetic fidelity in plantlets using RAPD marker

An efficient, rapid and reproducible plant regeneration protocol was successfully developed for Cuphea procumbens Orteg. using cotyledonary node explants excised from 15?days old aseptic seedlings. A range of cytokinins were investigated for multiple shoot regeneration. Of the three cytokinins, 6-benzyladenine (BA), Kinetin (Kin) and 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP) evaluated as supplement to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, BA at a concentration of 2.5???M was effective in inducing multiple shoots. The highest number of multiple shoots (9.33?±?0.60) and maximum average shoot length (4.16?±?0.44?cm) was standardized on MS medium supplemented with 2.5???M BA alongwith 0.5???M NAA. Addition of 200?mg/l Casein hydrolysate (CH) to the shoot induction medium enhanced the growth of regenerants. Rooting of in vitro regenerated shoots was best achieved on 1/2 strength MS medium. The in vitro raised plantlets with well developed shoots and roots were hardened, successfully established in earthen pots containing garden soil and maintained in greenhouse with 80% survival rate. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to evaluate the genetic stability among in vitro regenerated progenies. All RAPD profiles from the micropropagated plants were monomorphic and similar to control plant. These results suggests that the culture conditions used for the axillary bud proliferation are appropriate for clonal propagation of this medicinally important plant as they do not appear to interfere with genetic integrity of in vitro regenerated plants. The described method can be successfully employed for large-scale multiplication and in vitro conservation of C. procumbens.     

Cytokinins,donor plants and time in culture affect shoot regenerative capacity of American elm leaves

Cytokinins, donor plants and their time in vitro as well as basal media were investigated for their influence on shoot regenerative capacity of American elm (Ulmus americana L.) leaves. Leaves excised from six 2-year-old seedlings formed adventitious shoots when placed on Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) medium supplemented with 7.5, 15 or 22.5 M of benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). Thidiazuron induced significantly higher regeneration percentages on elm leaves than BA, regardless of concentration used. Donor plant also affected the efficiency of shoot regeneration, with certain seedlings having 1.5 to 7 times more explants forming shoots as compared to other seedlings tested. By subculture 15, the average number of shoots per regenerating explant increased at least 3-fold for leaves on media with BA or TDZ for the one donor plant that survived continued subculturing. Leaf explants from donor plants with the highest regenerative capacity had a higher percentage of shoot formation on DKW than MS medium. Explants from productive donor plants should be placed on DKW medium supplemented with TDZ to improve shoot regeneration efficiency from American elm leaves.     

Ploidy level stability of adventitious shoots of sour cherry ‘?a?anski Rubin’ and Gisela 5 cherry rootstock

The capacity of regeneration of adventitious shoots from leaf explants was studied in sour cherry ???a?anski Rubin?? (Prunus cerasus L.) and cherry rootstock Gisela 5 (P. cerasus?×?P. canescens). Regeneration assay included thirty different combinations of plant growth regulators. 6-benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) were applied either individually or each combined with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid, ??-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). ???a?anski Rubin?? showed higher regeneration capacity in comparison with Gisela 5 regarding the total number of treatments inducing regeneration as well as the highest frequency of regeneration achieved. In both genotypes, 8.9???M BA was more effective than both 4.5 and 9.0???M TDZ in inducing adventitious regeneration, but only when combined with auxins. The highest frequency of regeneration (20.8?%) in ???a?anski Rubin?? was achieved on medium supplemented with 8.9???M BA combined with 5.4???M NAA, while in Gisela 5 the highest value (8.3?%) was obtained when BA was combined with 4.5???M 2,4-D. Flow cytometry combined with 4??-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining was employed to estimate DNA ploidy levels and relative nuclear DNA content in adventitious regeneration-derived shoots, in vitro shoots of axillary origin and in vivo control plants from open field. No significant differences in nuclear DNA content were detected among plants of different origin. Chromosome counting in root tip meristems also showed normal tetraploid chromosome number (2n?=?4x?=?32) in ???a?anski Rubin?? shoots and normal triploid chromosome number (2n?=?3x?=?24) in Gisela 5 shoots regenerated in vitro. The results obtained suggest that no major genetic instability occurred during adventitious regeneration under the described experimental conditions.     

High-frequency plant regeneration from leaf-disc cultures of Jatropha curcas L.: an important biodiesel plant

A simple, high-frequency and reproducible protocol for induction of adventitious shoot buds and plant regeneration from leaf-disc cultures of Jatropha curcas L. has been developed. Adventitious shoot buds were induced from very young leaf explants of in vitro germinated seedlings as well as mature field-grown plants cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) (2.27 μM), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) (2.22 μM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.49 μM). The presence of TDZ in the induction medium has greater influence on the induction of adventitious shoot buds, whereas BA in the absence of TDZ promoted callus induction rather than shoot buds. Induced shoot buds were multiplied and elongated into shoots following transfer to the MS medium supplemented with BA (4.44 μM), kinetin (Kn) (2.33 μM), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (1.43 μM), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) (0.72 μM). Well-developed shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with IBA (0.5 μM) after 30 days. Regenerated plants after 2 months of acclimatization were successfully transferred to the field without visible morphological variation. This protocol might find use in mass production of true-to-type plants and in production of transgenic plants through Agrobacterium/biolistic-mediated transformation.     

Studies on the in vitro regenerative competence of aerial roots of two horticultural important Cymbidium species

In the present study aerial roots were successfully used as explants source for in vitro propagation of Cymbidium aloifolium and Cymbidium iridioides. Aerial roots of ~5?C6?week old from axenic cultures were cultured on MS medium adjuncts with different additives. In C. aloifolium within 20?days of culture ~60% of explants responded positively on MS medium containing sucrose (3%, w/v) and Kn (3???M) and formed PLBs. While in C. iridioides ~50% root explants responded positively on medium enriched with sucrose (3%), AC (0.1%) and IAA (3???M) after 40?days of culture. The shoot buds/PLBs converted into plantlets when maintained on regeneration medium. Of the three basal media tested, MS medium supported optimum regeneration and culture proliferation in both the species. In C. aloifolium ~12 shoot buds developed on medium nourished with sucrose (3%) and BA (3???M) but in C. iridioides optimum regeneration was achieved when medium supplemented with sucrose (3%), CW (15%), CH (100?mg?L^?1) and ~20 shoot buds formed per subculture. The well rooted plantlets were acclimatized for 3?C4?week in 1/10th MS salt solution containing sucrose (1%), charcoal pieces, brick pieces and chopped mosses as support under normal laboratory conditions. The hardened plants were transferred to potting mix where 80 and 75% of transplants survived in C. aloifolium and C. iridioides respectively after 2?months of transfer.     

Influence of genotype and explant source on the in vitro regeneration ability of different melon varieties

Nine genotypes of melon (Cucumis melo L.) were selected for the investigation of regeneration. Most of the tested varieties showed regeneration ability on medium containing 0.5 mg l?1 or 1 mg l?1 BA, but following the appearance of shoot buds, only six varieties produced leafy shoots. The effect of combinations of BA with different auxins (IAA, NA, 2,4-D) and ABA in the culture medium on shoot regeneration was tested on cotyledon explants of 'Hógolyó' and 'Hale's Best'. To establish optimal conditions for the adventitious shoot induction six types of seedling-derived explants were prepared from seedlings of four different ages. The best results for shoot forming capacity were achieved with cotyledons followed by decapitated seedlings and hypocotyls derived from 4-day-old seedlings. Cotyledon segments of 'Hógolyó' and 'Hale's Best' were also cultivated on media with different concentrations of IAA and BA supplemented with 0.26 mg l?1 ABA. The highest number of well-formed plantlets was counted for 'Hógolyó' on the medium supplemented with 0.9 mg l?1 BA+ 0.6 mg l?1 IAA+ 0.26 mg l?1 ABA. This is the first report on the in vitro regeneration of 'Hógolyó' from decapitated seedling and hypocotyl explants and of 'Javított Zentai', 'Muskotály', 'Hógolyó', 'Tétényi csereshéjú' and 'Magyar Kincs' from cotyledon explants.     

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.     

Multiple shoot induction and regeneration of whole plants from cotyledonary node and nodal explants of Sterculia urens Roxb., a gum yielding tree

Plant regeneration from the nodal explants of 1-month-old in vitro grown plants and cotyledonary node explants of 15-days-old seedlings of Sterculia urens is reported. Nodal explants were grown on MS medium supplemented with various growth regulators like BA, KIN and TDZ. For shoot induction 13.3 μM BA, 0.9 μM TDZ and 9.3 μM KIN were found optimum. Among the three growth regulators 0.90 μM TDZ was used for the growth of cotyledonary node explants. An average of 8.6 shoots per node and 11.2 shoots per cotyledonary node were observed in 4 to 5 weeks. These shoots were subsequently rooted in vitro on half strength MS medium containing various concentrations of auxins like IBA and NAA. The best concentrations for rooting of shoots were 19.7 μM IBA and 16.1 μM NAA. Plantlets were acclimatized to ex vitro conditions and established in the field.     

Callus induction and shoot organogenesis from anther cultures of Curcuma attenuata Wall

Curcuma attenuata is a highly valued ornamental. This study provides the first report on C. attenuata shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration. Immature anthers derived from 5 to 7?cm long inflorescences were isolated and cultured on different variations of Murashige and Skoog (MS) media to induce callus and then shoot organogenesis. When the 2-mm long anthers in which microspores were at the uninucleate developmental stage were cultured in the dark on MS medium containing 13.6???M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2.3???M kinetin (KT) for 15?days and then transferred to 40???mol?m^?2?s^?1 fluorescent light for 30?days, the percentage callus induction reached 33.3?%. After callus was transferred to various differentiation media and cultured in the light, 33.1?% of all callus cultures could differentiate into adventitious shoots on MS medium supplemented with 22.0???M 6-benzyladenine (BA), 0.53???M ??-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1.4???M thidiazuron (TDZ) after culturing for 60?days. Over 95?% of plantlets survived after transplanting plantlets into trays with a mixture of sand and perlite (2: 1) for 20?days. Chromosome number, determined from the root tips of young plantlets, indicated that all plantlets were diploid (2n?=?84).     

Multiple shoot formation from cotyledonary node segments of Eastern redbud

A procedure for multiple shoot formation from cotyledonary node explants of Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) cultured on DKW medium containing benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) was developed. Explants on medium with TDZ in combination with BA produced higher numbers of shoots than with either cytokinin alone. The highest number of shoots (7.8 to 9.8 shoots per explant) was obtained when explants from 4 to 10 day-old seedlings were treated with a combination of 10 or 15 μM BA and 0.5 or 1.0 μM TDZ for 20 days before being transferred to the same medium without TDZ. The number of shoots formed was increased from 5.8 to 7.2 shoots per explant by cutting through the cotyledonary node prior to culture. Histological studies indicated that the shoots were formed from actively dividing cells located at the axillary bud region. Shoots formed roots in half strength woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 10 to 200 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) cultured for 15 days prior to transfer to greenhouse medium.     

Regeneration and production of transgenic Lilium longiflorum via Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Efficient transformation of lilies is required for their genetic improvement in ornamental and marketable qualities. Although Lilium longiflorum can be transformed by particle bombardment and Agrobacterium, the transformation frequency is low. In this study, we tested new Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods using shoot segments combined with two different regeneration systems. Shoot segments were co-cultivated for 2?d with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AGL1/pCAS04 harboring a binary vector carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase II driven by a promoter from the maize ubiquitin gene. The effect of different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on regeneration was investigated. The results indicated that Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4.4???M BA and 0.5???M ??-naphthalene acetic acid was optimal for shoot formation, and the nodal stem was the best explant for shoot induction. MS medium with 9.0???M 2,4-D and 0.4???M BA was optimal for callus induction. The direct shoot formation method regenerated 187 plantlets per 100 explants, and 74.4% of the regenerants were positive in transgene PCR. The callus regeneration method regenerated 20 plantlets per 100 explants, and 31.5% of them were PCR positive. Southern blotting confirmed the insertion of transgene in the plant host genome. The direct shoot formation method is more than 20-fold more efficient than previously reported transformation method in this species.     

Plant regeneration from in vitro leaf tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Viburnum dentatum</Emphasis> L

Shoots were regenerated from in vitro leaf tissues of two genotypes of Viburnum dentatum, a popular shrub species for landscape use. Adventitious shoots were induced when leaf tissues were cultured on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with either benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). Effects of cytokinin concentration, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and dark treatment on shoot regeneration were investigated. Dark treatment for the first 4 weeks of leaf explants cultured in the regeneration medium significantly increased the frequency of regeneration. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration (70%) for ‘Synnesvedt’ was obtained when leaf tissues were cultured in the medium with 40 μM BA or 8 μM TDZ with 4 weeks dark treatment. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration (90%) for ‘MN34’ was found in the 4 μM TDZ medium with 4 weeks dark treatment. Addition of IBA significantly enhanced shoot regeneration. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treatment inhibited callus proliferation, particularly in the early stage of callus recovery; however, no significant difference in shoot regeneration among different treatments was observed, indicating that the inhibitory effect of EMS was minimal after calluses re-acquired their capacity to grow and regenerate in the regular medium. Regenerated shoots (>1.5 cm) were rooted in the half-strength MS medium containing 5-10 μM IBA or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Rooted plants were transferred to the potting medium and grown in the greenhouse.     

In vitro plant regeneration from immature cotyledon explants of macadamia (Macadamia tetraphylla L. Johnson)

The macadamia tree, an Australian native, is highly valued for its nuts. Macadamia improvement programs so far have relied on conventional breeding and selection. The production of improved cultivars required to meet future demands could be accelerated by the application of modern biotechnological techniques, but this requires an efficient and reproducible regeneration system that has not yet been established for macadamia. We report here shoot regeneration from immature cotyledon explants of macadamia. Adventitious buds were induced on the cotyledon explants from fruits collected at 140 and 190 days after full bloom (DAFB) on MS medium supplemented with either 10 or 15 μM TDZ. The addition of 2% coconut milk (CM) to 10 μM TDZ containing media resulted in enhanced adventitious bud induction from 190 DAFB explants. Further shoot development from the induced buds was depressed in media containing TDZ + CM; the addition of 0.001 μM IAA to this combination doubled shoot development, from 1.9–3.9 shoots per explant. The transfer of bud clumps to media supplemented with 8.8 μM BA alone or in combination with either 0.14 μM GA₃ or 0.001 μM IAA significantly increased shoot production from the previously induced explants by 1.5–2 times of that observed in TDZ + CM medium. Histological examinations revealed that shoot regeneration was primarily by organogenesis originating from cells on or just below the cut surfaces of explants.     

A combination of thidiazuron and benzyladenine promotes multiple shoot production from cotyledonary node explants of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

A procedure for multiple shoot formation from cotyledonary node explants of faba bean (Vicia faba L.cv.S.Ghdar) cultured on MS medium containing benzyladenine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) was developed. Explants on medium with TDZ in combination with BA produced a higher number of shoots than with either cytokinin alone. The highest number of shoots was obtained when explants from 7-day-old seedlings were cultured on MS medium supplemented with TDZ and BA (2 mgl–1 each) for 31 days before transfer to hormone-free MS medium for elongation. Shoots produced in vitro were rooted on half-strength agar-solidified MS basal medium or with 0.25 or 0.5 mgl–1 naphthalenacetic acid (NAA) prior to transfer to green house conditions. This procedure was found to be applicable to seven other cultivars of faba bean from widely diverse provenances. Thus, it can be advantageously applied to the production of transgenic faba bean plants.     

In vitro regeneration of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) from seedling cotyledon and hypocotyl explants

The goal of this study was to develop an efficient regeneration protocol to be used for genetic transformation of sesame. Published regeneration methods using benzyladenine (BA) and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were unsuccessful for the cultivars used herein. Experiments were carried out using cotyledon and hypocotyl explants from the cultivar Mtwara-2. Later the optimised culture conditions were used to investigate the regeneration response of different genotypes. There was significant interaction between hormone treatments and macronutrients for shoot and root regeneration. Results also showed that shoot regeneration was significantly influenced by explant type. Shoots were only obtained from cotyledons whereas both cotyledons and hypocotyls could produce roots. Modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with N6 macronutrients resulted in twice the shoot regeneration frequency obtained with ½MS macronutrients in the presence of thidiazuron (TDZ). The shoot regeneration frequency was significantly reduced when BA was used in place of TDZ. On shoot regeneration medium containing BA and NAA, only roots were formed. Replacing NAA with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) greatly improved the regeneration of shoots. The optimum growth regulator combination for shoot regeneration was 20 μM TDZ together with 2.5 μM IAA, which gave a frequency of 63% and 4.4 shoots per regenerating explant for the best cultivar Ex-El. Genotypic differences were significant both for the number of explants regenerating shoots and the number of shoots produced per regenerating explant.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> bud regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus tinctorius</Emphasis> and wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus</Emphasis> species from leaf explants and axillary buds

The organogenic competence of leaf explants of eleven Carthamus species including C. tinctorius on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ) + α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) + NAA was investigated. Highly prolific adventitious shoot regeneration was observed in C. tinctorius and C. arborescens on both growth regulator combinations and the shoot regeneration frequency was higher on medium supplemented with TDZ + NAA. Nodal culture of nine Carthamus species on media supplemented with BA and kinetin (KIN) individually revealed the superiority of media supplemented with BA over that of KIN in facilitating a higher shoot proliferation index. Proliferating shoots from axillary buds and leaf explants were transferred to medium supplemented with 1.0 mg dm⁻³ KIN or 0.5 mg dm⁻³ BA for shoot elongation. Elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg dm⁻³ each of indole-butyric acid (IBA) and phloroglucinol. The plantlets thus obtained were hardened and transferred to soil.     

In vitro adventitious bud regeneration from internode segments of beech

Internode explants collected from in vitro grown shoots of two clones of Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and five clones of F. orientalis Lipski (Oriental beech) were used to evaluate their bud regeneration capacity. Adventitious shoot-buds formed on callus, which developed from internode segments cultured in a Woody Plant Medium supplemented with different concentrations of either thidiazuron (TDZ) or benzyladenine (BA). After 4 weeks of culture on induction media, the explants were transferred to a proliferation medium supplemented with 2.2 μM BA, 9.1 μM zeatin and 2.9 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for another 8 weeks. Medium containing TDZ was much more efficient than medium containing BA in inducing adventitious buds, the optimal TDZ concentration being 4.5 μM and the optimal BA concentration 17.8 μM. Genotypic variation in shoot regeneration capacity was observed among the two Fagus species and between clones within each species, with a significant interaction between TDZ concentration and genotype regarding mean bud number. Thidiazuron induction medium supplemented with a range of individual auxins was investigated, and it was found that IAA or indole-3-butyric acid at 2.9 μM enhanced the bud forming capacity of explants. Morphogenic response varied significantly with the position of the internode along the stem. The highest regeneration potential was obtained from apical internodes, while those distal to the apex were the least productive. Elongated shoots of adventitious origin can be readily proliferated by axillary branching. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.