FEMINIZED OUTGROWTHS ON THE STAMEN PRIMORDIA OF TOBACCO INVITRO

Stamen primordia of Nicotiana tabacum var. Wisconsin 38 were excised from floral buds at 3 stages. When cultured on Linsmaier and Skoog medium with kinetin, in light or darkness, stigmatoid outgrowths arose directly on the stamens. The highest frequency of new organs was obtained from the youngest explants and older primordia did not regenerate organs. Outgrowths begin to appear at several loci after 7 days culture in the light. After 3-4 weeks, tips of the carpel-like outgrowths have tissues somewhat like those of a normal stigma. The data reveal a strong tendency of some of the young staminal tissues to reorganise into organs of the opposite sex in vitro. © 1979.