AN EFFICIENT METHOD FOR ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION FROM STEM-SEGMENT EXPLANTS OF GYPSOPHILA

An efficient adventitious shoot regeneration procedure was developed f or Gypsophila paniculata L. Using cultivar Arbel, shoot regeneration f rom the three upper internodes of the stem was monitored on MS media s upplemented with different cytokinins (thidiazuron, benzyladenine, kin etin or zeatin) and an auxin (naphthaleneacetic acid). Thidiazuron was found to be the most efficient cytokinin, with up to 100% of the expl ants forming shoots, at an average of up to 19 shoots per explant bein g regenerated. The highest percentage of shoot formation was observed in the stem explants originating from the first internode, with all cy tokinins tested. The adventitious origin of shoots regenerated from st em explants was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The regener ation procedure was found to be applicable to five other gypsophila cu ltivars (Perfecta, Golan, Gilboa, Flamingo and Tavor). Regenerating pl ants were successfully transferred to soil, and did not differ in flow er color, size or shape from standard vegetatively propagated plants d erived from cuttings.