OAT LEAF BASE - TISSUE WITH AN EFFICIENT REGENERATION CAPACITY

An efficient short term regeneration system using seedling derived oat (Avena saliva) leaf tissue has been developed. Callus derived from th e leaf base showed a higher response of plant regeneration than callus initiated from mesocotyls and more mature parts of the leaves. A corr elation between the nuclear DNA content of the donor material, as anal ysed with flow cytometry, and its ability to form callus was observed. Somatic embryogenesis was histologically recognised from callus deriv ed from tissue close to the apical meristem. Plant regeneration media with various concentrations of auxin were tested. Callus from three di fferent cultivars had a similar regeneration potential with an optimal regeneration frequency of 60%. About 2 months after inoculation regen erated plantlets could be moved to a greenhouse for cultivation.