African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (13), pp. 1498-1502, 4 July 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Genotype dependent callus induction and shoot regeneration in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Ibrahim Ilker Ozyigit¹, Nermin Gozukirmizi² and Belma Derman Semiz¹

¹Marmara University, Science and Art Faculty, Department of Biology, 81040, Goztepe/Istanbul/Turkey.

²Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 34118, Vezneciler/Istanbul/Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ilkozyigit@marmara.edu.tr

Accepted 20 February, 2007

This study aims to observe the effect of genotype, hormone and culture conditions on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) callus induction and indirect plant regeneration. Calli were obtained from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants of five different sunflower genotypes; Trakya 80, Trakya 129, Trakya 259, Trakya 2098 and Viniimk 8931, which are commercially important for Turkey. Seeds germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media contained no hormones. Hypocotyl and cotyledon explants were cultured on MS media supplemented with 1 mg/l 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and different percentage of callus inductions were obtained. Calli were cultured on MS + 1 mg/l BA (6-benzylaminopurine) and 0.5 mg/l NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid). Some genotypes showed high regeneration response while others showed lower on the same media with hypocotyl and cotyledon derived calli. This study showed that genotypic differences affect callus induction and plant regeneration in sunflower tissue culture studies.

Key words: Sunflower, tissue culture, callus, hypocotyl, cotyledon, organogenesis.