PLANT REGENERATION FROM LEAF PROTOPLASTS OF LYCOPERSICON HIRSUTUM AND ITS INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS WITH L. ESCULENTUM.

Abstract

L. hirsutum has been previously reported as recalcitrant to culture and plant regeneration. We have modified tomato protoplasm culture protocols and obtained high frequencies of plant regeneration from leaf protoplasts of L. hirsutum PI 126445, LA 94, and LA 1393, as well as from 8 interspecific hybrids of PI 126445 (male parent) with L. esculentum `Floradade', `Marglobe', `Tropic', `OH7870', `OH7983', `OH832', `OH8243', and `OH8245'. Protoplasts were isolated from 3-week old low light pretreated seedlings and cultured in modified LCM containing 1 mg/L NAA 0.5 m /L BA, and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D. Cultures were kept in the dark at 30 C, diluted every 3 days with LCM containing only 0.75 mg/L BA and gradually moved to the light. After 2-3 weeks, colonies of 1-2 mm were transferred to solid MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BA and 0.05 mg/L NAA. Calli containing dark green bud primordia were then placed on MS with 2% sucrose and 2 mg/L zeatin riboside for shoot production.