Efficient plant regeneration from cell cultures of ornamental statice, Limonium sinuatum mill.

Summary

A plant regeneration system from cell suspension cultures was established in an important ornamental crop, Limonium sinuatum Mill. cv. ‘Early Rose’. Friable callus was initially induced from leaf segments of in vitro-cultured seedlings on 0.25% gellan gum-solidified half-strength Murashige and Skoog [1/2MS] medium containing 1.0 mg l⁻¹ (4.14 μM) picloram. These calluses were maintained as cell suspension cultures, which showed high proliferation ability with about 80 times increase in fresh weight during the 2-wk interval of subculture. Shoot regeneration from these cell cultures was achieved by cytokinins, especially zeatin, which was the most effective in producing normal shoots with reduced hyperhydration when used in combination with 0.5% gellan gum. Shoot regeneration ability was different among the cell lines originated from each different seedling. Shoot formation was observed at different frequencies on four of five cell lines whereas one cell line showed no shoot differentiation. Regenerated shoots detached from callus readily rooted 1 mo. after the transfer onto 0.5% gellan gum-solidified 1/2MS medium lacking plant growth regulators. The plantets were successfully transferred to the greenhouse after acclimatization. No ploidy changes were observed in the callus induced or in the regenerated plantlets. The regenerated plantlets that were transferred to the greenhouse after acclimatization grew normally and did not any morphological signs of somaclonal variation.