Effects of explant type and growth regulators on callus induction in four ecotypes of Persian shallot

Abstract

<em>Allium hirtifolium</em> commonly known as Persian shallot is an important wild medicinal plant distributed from North West to central and South West of Iran. To establish an efficient protocol for callus induction, the effects of explant type and growth regulators on callus induction in four ecotypes of Persian shallot were evaluated. Two explants types included basal plates and young leaves were cultured on MS media supplemented with 1.5 mg l^-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 1.5 mg l^-1 of 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in combination with 0, 0.5 or 1 mg l^-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). All the cultures were maintained at 25±1°C in the dark. The results showed that basal plate was the best explant for callus induction when cultured on medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l^-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg l^-1 BAP. This optimized protocol will be useful for any future breeding improvement programs of Persian shallot using biotechnological means.