575 PB 050 EFFICIENT PLANT REGENERATION FROM LEAF AND PETIOLE EXPLANTS IN RED RASPBERRY
Raspberry has very cultivar specific requirements for proliferation. Plant regeneration rates from isolated explants are inconsistent and vary widely among cultivars. As a step towards developing a viable transgenic system in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) we first developed an efficient and consistent protocol for plant regeneration from isolated explants. A modified MS medium with cytokinin BA gave vigorous shoots with an average proliferation rate of 3-5 depending on the cultivar. These vigorous shoot proliferants served as an ideal explant source for plant regeneration experiments. The average rate of shoot regeneration from leaf explants was 72, 32, 68. and 72% for cvs. Canby, Chilliwack, Meeker and Heritage respectively. In addition to leaf, petiole explants were equally good sources for inducing shoot organogenesis. In all the above-mentioned cultivars, 44-57% of the petiole explants gave rise lo healthy and vigorous shoot regenerants in culture. The regenerated shoots were induced lo root on a rooting medium and were successfully transplanted to the greenhouse. This regeneration system was successfully applied in our laboratory for developing gene transfer system in red raspberry (see abstract by Mathews, et al).