Study of Callus Induction and Shoot Regeneration of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Using Hypocotyl and Cotyledon Explants Culture

Abstract

After cereals, oilseed crops are included as the second source of supplying calorie for human populations. In recent years, safflower was considered due to quality and high content of fatty acids. For optimization of tissue culture of safflower, an experiment was carried out as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with three replications in 2008-2009. Callus induction and shoot regeneration percentage of cotyledons and hypocotyl explants were measured on basal MS medium for two cultivars (Dincer and Sina) of safflower in different concentrations of NAA and BAP hormones. Analysis of interaction effects indicated that the cultivars were independent in response of different level of NAA. Mean comparison showed that the highest percentage of callus induction occurred on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l BAP (94.33%) and 1 mg/l NAA and 1 mg/l BAP (97%). Furthermore, hypocotyl explant of Dincer has a good response to callus induction. The highest percentage of shoot regeneration also was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l NAA and 2 mg/l BAP from cotyledon explant of Dincer.

Keywords

• safflower
• callus induction
• shoot regeneration
• explant
• tissue culture