Growth and Morphogenesis in Tissue Cultures of Anagallis arvensis

Morphogenesis has been induced in excised organs and callus tissue cultures obtained from various parts of the seedling and mature plants of pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). Vigorously growing cell cultures capable of being periodically subcultured have been established in liquid as well as on the agar-solidified Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 2,4-D (0.1 mg/1) + kinetin (0.1 mg/l) + coconut milk (10%). The callus tissue obtained from excised hypocotyl segments is white, soft, friable and fast growing, and has been subcultured over a period of two years without showing any sign of decline in growth. The optimum conditions for growth are at pH 5.9, temperature 27°C, and with 4% sucrose as the carbon source. Under appropriate nutritional supply these cultures can be manipulated to induce rhizogenesis in the suspension cultures, and buds and “embryo-like” structures on agar-solidified media. The excised leaves, hypocotyl and stem segments regenerate buds. Of the cytokinins used, 6-(y,y-dimethylallylamino)-purine proved to be the best for the number of cultures producing buds, as well as for the number of buds per culture. Anatomical studies revealed that buds arise from the epidermal and subepidermal layers of leaves and hypocotyl; these buds form shoots which eventually develop into plantlets.