Adventitious Shoot and Plantlet Formation from Cultured Pomegranate Leaf Explants

Abstract Callus from leaf explants of two pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) clones produced adventitious shoots after 2 months of in vitro culture. Leaf segment explants initially were cultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with a range of 0.5-10 μ m BA and 0.05-5 (μ m NAA. Shoot elongation was stimulated most efficiently when the initial calli were transferred from the shoot induction medium to half-strength MS supplemented with 2 μ m BA. Elongated shoots rooted easily on a medium of one-half MS and 0.1 μ m NAA. Whole plants were recovered after transfer to vermiculite in a greenhouse. Chemical names used: N- (phenylmethyl)-1 H -purin-6-amine (BA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA).