High frequency plantlet regeneration in a dioecious plant as Sorrel

Sorrel [Rumex acetosa L. (Polygonacea)] is a dioecious perinnial species which is being used as a model plant in sex determination molecular genetic studies. In this study for determination of the most suitable explant and medium for regeneration in this species, explants from different organs such as leaf, petiol, cotyledon, hypocotyle and root were cultured on Murashing and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with vitamins, 2% sucrose, 0.8% agar and different compositions of hormons. Auxins; IAA, NAA and cytokenins; Zeatin, BAP, TDZ and Kinetin as well as IAA and BAP with Gibberllic Acid were added to culture media. Experiments were carried out as factorial in completely randomized design. Callus induction and regeneration from explants were evaluated. The most suitable explants and medium for regeneration were leaf and MS medium supplemented with 0.75 mgl-1 IAA and 1.5 mgl-1 BAP, respectively. The highest callus induction and regeneration was obtained from the leaf explants at the rate of 100% and 81%, respectively. Regenerates from the leaf explants on this medium had proliferated status. Histological studies confirmed that the origin of regeneration was from active and condensed cells that had developed from central parts of callus followed by marginal cells to form single or proliferated primordial. These results suggest new, simple, short and efficient regeneration method in this model species which can be used in genetic studies and gene transformation.