Regeneration of Bellevalia pseudolongipes Karabacak & Yıldırım Under in Vitro Conditions

Abstract

Profitable viable in vitro, multiplication of endemic bulbous geophyte Bellevalia pseudolongipes is challenging and is desired for commercial exploitation and conservation. This study aimed to multiply this plant species using double-scale explants using 1/4 (0.5 cm), 1/6 (0.33 cm), or 1/8 th (0.25 cm) longitudinally sliced bulb scale tissues lying in the 1st, and 2nd, clusters of B. Pseudolongipes mother bulbs. These were cultured on MS; White and Gamborg B5 media enriched with 1.11 ?M - 5.44 ?M BAP and 1.34 ?M NAA (5 combinations) to compare the regeneration potential of fresh and 2-month stored bulb scale explants. Bulblet induction was observed on all concentrations of BAP-NAA on all culture media. MS medium modified with 1.11 ?M BAP and 1.34 ?M NAA induced maximum number of 3.56 bulblets explant on 0.25 cm wide two scale explants. The regeneration capability of White and Gamborg B5 medium was less compared to bulblets induced on MS medium. The biggest bulbs were observed on Gamborg B5 medium, which differed significantly from the bulblets induced on White and MS media. Treatment of regenerated bulblets with sucrose improved bulblet diameter by ~2 mm. The bulblet diameter varied between 0.42-0.83 cm. The bulblets were rooted on MS medium without using any auxin. Furthermore, the study revealed the potential of 2 scale explants from the outer cluster for multiplication and laid the groundwork for future breeding and tissue culture-based multiplication to conserve the species. The experimental results provide a useful reference for the efficacy of bulb scales for regeneration.