Somatic organogenesis and plant regeneration in Ricinus communis

An in vitro propagation system was developed for castor-bean (Ricinus communis L. cv. TMV 6) through cotyledon derived callus cultures. The impact of different concentrations of auxins, cytokinins, additives, amino acids and sugars were evaluated for callus induction and shoot proliferation. Green compact nodular organogenic callus was obtained on the medium fortified with Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts, B5 vitamins, 2.0 mg dm(-3) 6-benzyladenine and 0.8 mg dm(-3) alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Multiple shoot proliferation from the callus cultures was achieved on the medium with MS salts, B5 vitamins, 2.5 mg dm(-3) thidiazuron (TDZ), 0.4 mg dm(-3) NAA and 15 mg dm(-3) glutamine. During multiple shoot induction the phenolic secretion was controlled by the addition of 15 mg dm(-3) polyvinylpyrolidone. The proliferated shoots were elongated on the medium comprising MS salts, B5 vitamins, 1.5 mg dm(-3) TDZ and 0.3 mg dm(-3) gibberellic acid. The elongated shoots were rooted on the medium containing MS salts, B5 vitamins, 0.3 mg dm-3 indole-3-butyric acid and 0.6 mg dm(-3) silver nitrate. After root induction, the plants were hardened in earthen pots containing sand, soil and vermiculite.