GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES IN MORPHOGENIC POTENTIAL OF CULTURED LEAF EXPLANTS OF LYCOPERSICON HIRSUTUM
Cultured leaf explants obtained from 36 accessions of the wild tomato Lycopersicon hirsutum were evaluated for morphogenic capacity in response to 3 cytokinins [zeatin, benzylamino purine (BA) and kinetin] in combination with indoleacetic acid (IAA). Morphogenic responses within this wild species were accession-dependent, Cotyledon tissue, in comparison to true leaf explants, were superior for callus and shoot formation. Optimal callus induction medium varied with accession, but most often contained 13.3 μM BA plus 1.7 μM IAA. Media containing 4.6 or 9.2 μM zeatin plus 0.1 μM iaa were optimal shoot induction media. Explants of L. hirsutum f. typicum accessions 126445, 127826, 128644, and 390663 and L. hirsutum f. glabratum accessions 365904, 365905, and 365906 exhibited the highest levels of shoot formation.