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 μM), alone or combined with 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin, 2.3-4.6 μM). Shoots started to grow 3 wk after culturing in the presence of light and the addition to culture media of 4.4 μM N6-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 MS medium supplemented with 4.6 μM kinetin and 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.