Plant regeneration from leaf tissues of Siberian elm

Plants were regenerated from leaf tissue of greenhouse-grown seedlings of Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.). Shoot regeneration was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 5 to 10 mu M of BA. Up to 55% of the leaf explants formed shoots with an average of 2.4 shoots per explant. Addition of 2.5 or 5 mu M of IBA failed to enhance regeneration. Thidiazuron at 0.5 or 1.0 mu M also induced shoot regeneration, but the shoots failed to elongate as well as shoots regenerated from media containing BA. Incubation in darkness for 7, 14, or 21 d had little effect in promoting shoot regeneration, except that incubation for 21 d increased shoot regeneration on the medium with 5.0 mu M BA. Genotypes differed in shoot regeneration potential, with regeneration frequencies ranging from 13% to 55%. Regenerated shoots were micropropagated on Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut medium. Ninety percent of microcuttings rooted directly in potting soil. This regeneration system will be valuable for genetic transformation and cell selection of Siberian elm. Chemical names used: 6-benzylaminopurine (BA); indole-3-butyric acid (IBA); N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron, TDZ).