Regeneration of some monocotyledonous plants from subterranean organs in vitro

Abstract

The aim in view was investigation ofthe regenerative potential of rhizomes, bulbs and corms of ten monocotyledonous plant species from four families: Amaryllidaceae (Haemanthus katharinae, Crinum abyssinicum, Leucojum vernum), Araceae (Spathiphyllum wallisii), Iridaceae (Crocus vernus, Iris germanica), Liliaceae (Hosta lancifolia, Muscari racemosum, Scilla laxiflora, Veltheimia viridifolia) under conditions of in vitro culture. All the investigated species were capable of buld or, alternatively, bud and root regeneration. Different morphogenetic potential was noted between the particular families. A high regenerative potential under the conditions of culture applied was characteristic for plants of the Liliaceae and Araceae families, it was lower in plants belonging to Amaryllidaceae and lowest in those of the Iridaceae family. Plants from the Liliaceae family exhibited also the highest ability of callus formation, whereas Amaryllidaceae and Iridaceae plants possessed this ability in only a low degree. The influence of growth regulators of the auxin group (NAA, IAA, 2,4-D) and of cytokinins (K) on the initiation and course of organogenesis was tested. The results of the experiments indicate that auxins in interaction with kinetin gave the highest percentage of regenerating explants and also a large number of buds on the latter. Stimulation of callus tissue was highest under the influence of 2,4-D, and weaker when NAA IAA were used.