Effect of different growth regulators and explants on wild lettuce [Launea Taraxacifolia (Wilid) Amin, Ex. C. Jeffrey], an African leafy vegetable

Abstract

Some factors regulating organogenesis of Launea taraxacifolia an African leafy vegetable (ALV) in need of conservation and genetic improvement is described. Leaf, stem and nodal explants were cultured onMS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium fortified with different concentrations of 2,4-D with KN or BA with NAA. A combination of BA with NAA was more efficient/or multiple adventitious shoot regeneration as compared to the combination of 2, 4-D with KN. Out of different explants utilized (leaf, stem and nodal), only leaf explants produced multiple adventitious shoots (100%) with an average number of 13.3 ± 2.4 shoots per explants on shoot induction medium (Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium +2.0mg/l BA +0.1mg/l NAA. Shoot buds elongated rapidly with over 50% of the elongated shoots rooting well on the same medium. This study is the first documentation on the multiple adventitious shoot regeneration of L. taraxacifolia.