331 Effects of Explant Type, Sucrose Level and Callus Development Time on In Vitro Plant Regeneration of Sweetpotato

Abstract

Several experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of explant type, sucrose level, and callus development time on sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] in vitro culture. Shoot tip, petiole, and leaf of Selection 75-96-1 was used as explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) media with different plant growth regulators. Calli derived from shoot tip and petiole produced 42.1% and 10.3% somatic embryos, respectively, but the leaf failed to produce somatic embryos. The effect of sucrose level was determined using shoot tip as explants. Compared with 3% sucrose in the same plant growth regulators level medium during callus initiation and callus proliferation periods, 5% sucrose level suppressed root growth and improved shoot regeneration. The callus development time was measured by using shoot tips on callus initiation medium containing 1.5 mg/L alpha-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.25 mg/L Kinetin (KIN) plus 5% sucrose. When explants were cultured for less than 6 weeks during callus initiation, then transferred onto plant regeneration medium, plant regeneration via organogenesis occurred; whereas, maintaining cultures for more than 12 weeks on the same callus initiation/proliferation medium, plant regeneration was favored via embryogenesis. Explant type and other factors affecting plant regeneration noted here could be applied to protoplast culture, somatic hybridization, and transformation in sweetpotato.