PLANT REGENERATION AND CHROMOSOME DOUBLING OF WILD GLADIOLUS SPECIES

Abstract

A plant regeneration system from callus and chromosome doubling by colchicine treatment was investigated in wild Gladiolus species. Corm slices of 3 species, G. priorii , G. tristis and G. virescens, were used and callus was induced in liquid MS medium supplemented with BA or 2,4-D. The resulting callus was classified as two types - a friable type induced by BA and a compact type induced by 2,4-D. The former callus easily regenerated shoots with further cultivation. Chromosome doubling was induced by treating callus initiating shoots with colchicine. The highest efficiency of chromosome doubling was observed in the treatment with colchicine at 0.05% for 72 hours. The regenerants of the wild species having doubled chromosomes will be powerful materials for gladiolus breeding.