The effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and carbohydrate sources on callus induction, callus growth, and plant regeneration in foxglove was examined. Explants were transferred onto MS medium with various levels of PGRs and carbohydrates to determine the optimum explant and effective combinations of PGR treatment. | Research Article Turk J Bot 33 (2009) 393-405 © TÜBİTAK doi: Callus induction, biomass growth, and plant regeneration in Digitalis lanata Ehrh.: influence of plant growth regulators and carbohydrates Zohra FATIMA, Abdul MUJIB*, Samar FATIMA, Anjum ARSHI, Shahid UMAR Cellular Differentiation and Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Botany, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110 062 - INDIA Received: Accepted: Abstract: The effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and carbohydrate sources on callus induction, callus growth, and plant regeneration in foxglove was examined. Explants were transferred onto MS medium with various levels of PGRs and carbohydrates to determine the optimum explant and effective combinations of PGR treatment. For callus induction mg L-1 of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and mg L-1 of benzyl-aminopurine (BA) were very responsive. Addition of cytokinins (BA and kinetin) at mg L-1 to media containing NAA enhanced callus growth. Shoot regeneration -1 was best achieved in MS + mg L of BA. Adenine sulphate (Ade) and casein hydrolysate (Ch) were added to the medium as a nitrogen source to improve plant growth and maximum growth was obtained on medium supplemented -1 -1 -1 with mg L of kinetin + mg L of IAA + 500 mg L of Ch. Carbohydrates also influenced callus production and shoot regeneration potentiality. Among all the tested carbohydrates (sucrose, maltose, fructose, and glucose) and -1 -1 concentrations ( g L ), the optimum carbohydrate concentration was g L and was applied to all carbohydrate cases. Key words: Callus, regeneration, carbohydrates, nitrogen source, rooting Introduction Digitalis L., also known as foxglove, belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. The species of Digitalis are biennial or perennial herbs and contain important cardioactive compounds (glycosides) that are used to treat heart problems. The extract of Digitalis is used to strengthen .
