Plant regeneration from hypocotyl-derived protoplasts of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss.

Protoplasts isolated from etiolated hypocotyls of 6-day-old seedlings of Brassica juncea cv RLM 198 were cultured in a modified V47 medium containing 7% mannitol, 2% sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/l NAA and 0.4 mg/l BAP, at a density of 5×10(4) protoplasts per ml of medium. Cultures were incubated in the dark at 25+1°C. After 7 d of culture, cell colonies were diluted with 8p medium containing 5% mannitol and a similar hormone combination as described earlier. After 14 d, cell colonies were embedded in 8p medium containing agarose and 3.5% mannitol. Immediately upon gelling, liquid 8p medium was added to each Petri dish as an overlayer, and cultures were incubated in the light. After a total of 3 to 4 weeks in culture, microcalli were obtained. A modified MS medium with 2% sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/l kinetin solidified with 0.5% agarose was used for growing microcalli into callus lines. On MS medium containing 2% sucrose, 0.1 mg/l IAA, 2.0 mg/l zeatin riboside and 2.0 mg/l BAP, solidified with 0.5% agarose, about 35% of the calli regenerated multiple shoots. The time required from culture of protoplasts to multiple shoot regeneration was about 10 weeks. Regenerated shoots were rooted and plants were re-established in a growth chamber at high frequency.