Regeneration of ornamental cherry (Prunus) taxa from mature stored seed

Callus formation and adventitious shoot regeneration in vitro from mature stored seed were evaluated in eight ornamental cherry (Prunus) taxa: P. campanulata Maxim., P. maackii Rupr., P. sargentii Rehd., P. serrula Franch., P. serrulata Lindl., P. subhirtella Miq., P. virginiana L., and P. yedoensis Matsum. Several portions of the embryo (cotyledons and hypocotyl sections) and nine combinations of growth regulators (BA, 2,4-D, IBA, NAA, and TDZ) were compared. Effects of embryo portions and growth regulator treatments were generally small within taxa, but shoot formation differed among taxa. About 20% to 50% of the embryos from P. virginiana and P. serrula and ≃5% to 30% of those from P. maackii produced shoots. The other taxa generally did not produce shoots. Regeneration from mature stored seed in the responsive taxa represents a potential system for genetic transformation. Chemical names used: 6-benzyladenine (BA); 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D); indole-3-butyric acid (IBA); α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); thidiazuron (TDZ).