In vitro propagation of leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.)

Abstract

We are trying to develop a fast and safe multiplication strategy to increase the number of superior leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.) plants selected in our leek improvement program. In vitro propagation method offers possibilities for large scale micro-propagation of selected leek plants. A detailed study was carried out to determine effects of media on somatic shoot production from six open-pollinated standard leek genotypes (three cultivars and three breeding materials). We cultured a total of 28515 unopened flower buds collected from six donor leek lines in various tissue culture media. The propagation media tested were MS and BDS with varying amounts of growth regulators and sucrose. Over all, bud cultures established in BDSbased media provided somatic shoot regeneration at higher frequencies than those cultured in MS-based media. The highest frequency of somatic shoot regeneration (~6%) was obtained from the buds cultured in BDSC medium (BDS medium containing 2 mg L-1 BAP and 100 g L-1 sucrose). A selection line (PAUPR2) showed the highest somatic regeneration (~18%) in BDSC medium. Flow cytometry analysis showed that all somatic regenerants were tetraploids. Somatic regenerants transferred to greenhouse showed normal development similar to their donor lines. Somatic plants showed higher vigor and uniformity compared to those grown from seeds.