Tissue culture of wild-type, interspecific genome/plastome hybrids and plastome mutants of evening primrose (Oenothera):: controlled morphogenesis and transformation

A favourable combination of genetic features in the genus Oenothera offers access to fundamental biological aspects that are not readily approached with other materials. We have developed protocols for cell and tissue culture as well as for transformation, in order to establish the basis for a comprehensive cell and molecular biology of Euoenothera species, their genome/plastome hybrids and plastome mutants. Regeneration of plants from excised seedling parts (roots, hypocotyl, cotyledons, shoot tips) and leaf explants was optimal on NT medium containing 1 mg . l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine and 3 mg . l(-1) alpha-naphtalene acetic acid. This medium also proved to be efficient in the propagation of Various wild-type genotypes, interspecific hybrids and plastome mutants. Using Ti-based approaches we also succeeded in generating transgenic Oenothera plants with relatively high efficiency.