EFFECTS OF PLURONIC F-68 ON SHOOT REGENERATION FROM CULTURED JUTE COTYLEDONS AND ON GROWTH OF TRANSFORMED ROOTS

The effects have been studied of the non-ionic surfactant, Pluronic F- 68, on the growth in culture of jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) cotyled ons with attached petioles, cotyledon explants and transformed roots. Supplementation of culture medium with 0.001-0.5% (w/v) of either comm ercial grade Pluronic F-68 or a purified fraction prepared by passage through silica gel, stimulated shoot production from the petioles of C . capsularis var. D154 and C134 cotyledons. This effect was most marke d in C134, because of the failure of control cotyledons to produce sho ots in the absence of Pluronic. Plants regenerated from Pluronic-treat ed cotyledons were morphologically normal. Growth of transformed roots of C. capsularis var. D154 was stimulated in medium supplemented with commercial grade or purified Pluronic F-68, with maximum increases in both fresh and dry weights with 0. 1 % (w/v) of the surfactant. Roots cultured in the presence of Pluronic F-68 could be maintained without sub-culture for up to 70 days, whereas roots cultured in the absence of Pluronic required subculture every 7 days, to prevent necrosis. Tra nsformed roots also produced callus in the presence of 0.001-1.0% (w/v ) of either commercial grade or purified Pluronic. The biotechnologica l implications of these results are discussed in relation to the poten tial value of non-ionic surfactants as growth-stimulating additives to plant culture media.