Multiple shoot induction and plant regeneration from embryonic axes of cotton

Abstract

Cytokinins are involved in shoot development of plants. Events of multiple bud formation and shoot development in apical embryonic axes of cotton treated for 2 or 20 days with the cytokinin benzyladenine (BA), were compared with the development of untreated control axes. Meristematic regions (supernumerary vegetative buds) were observed in axes treated for 20 days with BA. An average of 3.4 shoots per embryonary axis was obtained when explants were cultured on medium supplemented with 3 mg l-1 BA. Higher and lower concentrations of the growth regulator yielded fewer shoots per explant. Results shown in this report suggest that BA is directly responsible for re-programming the embryonic apical meristem axes of cotton toward the production of multiple buds and subsequent shoot development.