Regeneration of Thalliclones from Laurencia sp. (Rhodophyta)

Abstract

Tissue culture techniques could be applied to improve the genetic qualities of seaweeds. In order to apply those techniques, efficient methods for obtaining and regenerating calli are needed. The term “callus” or “calluslike” has been applied to define very different structures in seaweeds (Dixon 1963; Fries 1980; Chen 1982; Saga et al. 1982; Tsekos 1982; Polne-Fuller et al. 1984; Yan 1984). Histological studies have been performed on “tumourlike” growths induced by bacteria in Gigartina teedii (Tsekos 1982), and to our knowledge nothing is known on the cytological events preceding differentiation from true callus. In a previous paper (Garcia-Reina et al. 1987), we reported the spontaneous formation of morphogenetic calli, the different calligenic potentials among Laurencia species and primary expiants, and the lack of necessity for axenicity. Callus growth was drastically reduced after its organogenetic trigger, and the organogenetic potential seemed to decrease with time in culture.

Thalliclones = thal1i regenerated from callus.