IN VITRO SHOOT REGENERATION FROM INTERNODE SEGMENTS AND INTERNODE - DERIVED CALLUS OF BLUEBERRY (VACCINIUM SPP.)
in HortScienceIn an effort to increase somaclonal variation in blueberry, a protocol was developed to regenerate viable shoots from internode segments. The explant consisted of the last-formed, fully developed internode taken from 3 different genotypes of Vaccinium grown in vitro. Explants were cultured 6 weeks on Zimmerman's Z-2 medium supplemented with 2iP, zeatin, thidiazuron, kinetin, or BA at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 100 uM. Explant response to the treatments varied and included: no response, callus growth only, callus growth and subsequent shoot formation originating from the callus mass, and adventitious shoot formation directly from the internode segment without an intervening callus. Greatest shoot regeneration (20-25 shoots/explant) was obtained on medium supplemented with zeatin at 5, 25, and 50 uM, however treatment response was not consistant across all genotypes. Regenerated shoots could be readily sub-cultured, rooted in soil mix and will be evaluated for somaclonal variation.
