A procedure is outlined for the establishment of a proliferating cell suspension culture and subsequent plant regeneration of the latex-producing plant, Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) R. Br. Friable calluses were obtained by culturing hypocotyl explants on modified Murashige and Skoog medium with 2.69 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 4.44 μM 6-benzyl-aminopurine. Friable calluses were transferred to modified Murashige and Skoog liquid medium containing 500 mg 1-1 casein hydrolysate, 5% (v/v) coconut water and 5% (w/v) sucrose to initiate suspension cultures. Suspensions were subcultured every 10-12 days and supplemented with 13.56 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). After 3-4 subcultures, suspensions consisted of small, highly cytoplasmic cell clumps and large vacuolate cells. Plating the suspension clumps on medium containing 4.52 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and culturing in darkness produced macroscopic calluses, which subsequently produced a high number of shoots when placed in light and supplemented with 2.22 μM 6-benzyl-aminopurine and 0.45 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Shoots were rooted using Bonner's solution containing 0.49 μM indole-3-butyric acid, and the plants successfully transferred to soil.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Horticultural production
Research Field:	Horticultural crop improvement (incl. selection and breeding)
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Horticultural crops
Objective Field:	Horticultural crops not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Roy, A (Dr Ashish Roy)
UTAS Author:	Koutoulis, A (Professor Anthony Koutoulis)
ID Code:	20997
Year Published:	2000
Web of Science® Times Cited:	8
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2000-08-01
Last Modified:	2013-09-16
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