Factors affecting hemp (Canabis sativa L.) callus genesis in somatic tissue culture

Abstract

Research was carried out at the Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology of Aleksandras Stulginskis University and at the Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology of the Joint Research Centre. The effect of growth regulators on the callus induction from hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants was evaluated. The isolated explants were cultivated in the MS medium without growth regulators and supplemented with different zeatine (ZT) and α-naftilacetic acid (NAA) or indoleacetic acid (IAA) combinations and thidiazuron (TDZ) and ɑ-naftilacetic acid (NAA) or indoleacetic acid (IAA) combinations. The highest callus formation frequency from hypocotyl explants was obtained in the medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l^–1 ZT + 1.0 mg l^–1 IAA (‘KAN-30’ and ‘KAN-38’) and – 1.0 mg l^–1 ZT + 0.5 mg l^–1 NAR (‘KAN-34’). The combination of 2.0 mg l^–1 ZT with 1.0 mg l^–1 NAA was most appropriate for the callus induction from cotyledon explants. The optimal combination of growth regulators for callus induction from leaf explants should be selected for a specific genotype. The mean rate of callus formation frequency from leaf explants was 4.8–5.6 times higher in comparison with the mean frequency form hypocotyl explants and 2.7–3.1 times higher as compared to the mean frequency from cotyledon explants.