Efficient plant regeneration of garlic (Allium sativum L.) by root-tip culture

Root apices from in vitro cultured garlic (Allium sativum) cloves of cvs. ABEN and GT96-1 were used as axenic explants for organogenic callus production and plant regeneration experiments. Explants cultured in media based on those of Chu and co-workers (N6) or Murashige and Skoog (MS) could induce organogenic callus after 8 wk culture in darkness. Both media were supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.2-4.5 muM), alone or combined with 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin, 2.3-4.6 muM). Shoots started to grow 3 wk after culturing in the presence of light and the addition to culture media of 4.4 muM N-6-benzyladenine. Plants capable of producing microbulbs regenerated 6 wk later. Up to 170 plants g(-1) FW callus were obtained when culturing was initiated in 4.5 muM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.