Plant regeneration from petiole and leaf of African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.) cultured in vitro

Abstract

A regeneration procedure was developed for in vitro grown African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.). Adventitious shoot regeneration was compared among petioles, leaves and stems cultured on MS basal medium. High frequency regeneration was obtained from leaves and petioles supplemented with plant growth regulators (BA, KN, 2,4-D, and NAA). Regeneration media that induced the highest number of shoots in petiole explants was either MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l BA alone or 1 mg/l NAA plus 3 mg/l BA. Adventitious shoots were also regenerated from callus that was derived from leaf explants cultured on MS medium containing several concentrations of TDZ. Callus induced on medium with 0.5 mg/l TDZ showed the best shoot induction. Regenerated shoots could be rooted on 1/2 MS medium or MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l IBA. Complete plantlets were acclimatized and successfully transplanted to glasshouse conditions.

Keywords

• adventitious shoot
• cytokinins
• organogenesis
• regeneration
• Saintpaulia ionantha