SHOOT REGENERATION AND PLANT ACCLIMATIZATION OF THE WETLAND MONOCOT CATTAIL (TYPHA-LATIFOLIA)

A regeneration system for broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), a commo n freshwater wetland monocot, was established. Callus was induced from 3 day-old seedlings on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with p icloram or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Picloram induced mo re callus growth than 2,4-D. Callus proliferated predominantly from th e root-shoot junction and sporadically from the roots. Upon transfer t o N-6-benzyladenine-supplemented medium, callus regenerated shoots. Th e mode of regeneration was organogenesis, with shoots arising from org anized areas of callus. The regenerated shoots rooted in vitro and, on transfer to pots containing a commercial potting mix, were establishe d in a greenhouse. The plants grew Vigorously and produced a high root mass. No albinos and no morphological aberrations were observed in th e regenerates.