Thesis abstracts

Abstract

Eggplant explant responses were evaluated in the present study. Cotyledons and hypocotyls from 15-day in vitro grown plantlets were used as explants for somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, respectively. The results showed that MS-based medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L -1 IAA provided higher shoot regeneration frequencies and that 2.5 to 10 mg L -1 NAA had similar effects over somatic embryogenesis. An average of 0.57 shoots and 80 embryos per explant were observed for organogenesis and embryogenesis, respectively. Regarding antibiotics, Timentin added to the medium led to better regeneration responses, in either shoots or embryos, compared to cefotaxime. On the other hand, cefotaxime supplementation in combination with NAA increased callus weight. Furthermore, a significant decrease in total embryo number and shoots was observed with the later. Kanamycin (50 mg L -1 ) added to selective medium completely inhibited morphogenesis in hypocotyl and cotyledon explants, in spite of the high frequency of escapes in transformation experiments. Organogenic responses were suppressed by hygromicin at 7.5 mg L -1 , whereas some globular embryos were observed in the presence of 10 mg L -1 of this antibiotic. But, as time progressed, the embryos that were differentiated oxidized without any further development. [Aiming the optimization] of the transformation protocol, Other factors that affect transformation efficiency were examined to optimize the transformation protocol, including the vector harboring nptII or hpt gene and cocultivation temperature. In transformation experiments organogenesis occurred only when kanamycin was the scorable marker, whereas somatic embryos regenerated on both kanamycin and hygromicin-supplemented medium.