In vitro selection of atrazine tolerant cell lines and regeneration of plantlets from the selected lines in Cicer arietinum (L.)

Abstract

Pieces of hypocotyl calli were transferred to B5 medium supplemented with 100-500 ppm of Atrazine. In the presence of herbicide at 500 ppm calli died within 20 days but occasionally (Ca-2% cultures) a portion of the callus continued to grow. The surviving tissues continued to grow when subcultured on 500 ppm Atrazine containing medium for two passages of 28 days each. The tolerance was not lost during a passage on Atrazine free medium. Plantlets were regenerated from the tolerant callus lines on B5 medium+ 2 mg/l BAP+0.2 mg/l NAA or IAA. The plantlets were rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 1 mg/l NAA. Establishment of the plants in pots and testing of the plants resistance to Atrazine remain to be done.