Abstract

A protocol to efficiently achieve plant regeneration from leaf explants of Erigeron breviscapus (Compositae) has been developed. Leaf explants produced calli on Murashige and Skoog’s (1962) basal medium (MS) supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.4 M) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0.4-22.6 M) under a 16-h photoperiod. Direct adventitious shoots were induced from leaf explants on MS medium containing BAP (22.2 M) and IAA (5.7 M) under the light treatment. The effect of the dark incubation on shoot regeneration from leaves indicated that 15 days of darkness permitted a higher regeneration frequency (82.6%) on the medium supplemented with BAP (4.4 M) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.6 M). Regenerated shoots were rooted on MS medium with or without naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Plantlets were cultivatable in the greenhouse after acclimatization.

Key words: Erigeron breviscapus, callus induction, leaf explants, dark culture, plant regeneration.