Thin cell layer culture system in Lilium: Regeneration and transformation perspectives

Abstract

Lilies are one of the most valuable bulbous ornamental cut flower crops and are commercially propagated by conventional scaling, which results in varied bulb quality. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of using specific organ sources in conjunction with the thin cell layer (TCL) system to establish successful organogenic and somatic embryogenic pathways in Lilium longiflorum. TCLs derived from different explant sources, such as receptacle, leaf, young stem, stem node, bulblets, pseudo-bulblets, shoot and somatic embryos, respectively, can be manipulated to form different organs. Furthermore, the choice of plant growth regulator and medium additives such as activated charcoal and sucrose strongly affect the success of the process. This article further highlights that transient transgene expression derived from either particle bombardment or Agro-infection is both strong and repeatable, as a result of the direct exposure of competent cells to the gene introduction method, resulting in a reduction of escapes. The ability to manipulate and control organogenesis through a TCL system, coupled with repeatable, efficient transformation opens up the possibility of micropropagating members of this genus with new and available characteristics, producing superior plants of high quality.