Abstract:

A method for adventitious shoot regeneration from mature cotyledons and leaves of seed-derived Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica cv. ‘Dahongpao') in vitro has been developed. The results showed that: 1) GA pre-treatments could shorten the time of seed germination. 2) Shoots regeneration occurred when mature cotyledons were cultured on MS supplemented with TDZ and GA. The highest adventitious shoot frequency from mature cotyledons was 83.3%. The regeneration was changed when mature cotyledons were wounded by a razor blade and the best results were obtained from the single mature cotyledons with plantule. Shoots could regenerate from mature cotyledons with plantule, but could not get any regeneration of adventitious shoot from the mature cotyledons without plantule. 3) Different part of leaf had different potential of regeneration. Adventitious shoots regenerated from the part which near the leaf-petiole through callus, but the other parts of leaf only got callus. The highest adventitious shoot frequency from the part of leaf-petiole was 65.0%.

Key words: Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), mature cotyledons, leaf, regeneration in vitro