Adventitious shoot regeneration from seven commercial strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) using a range of explant types

Abstract.

The parameters for optimal regeneration of seven commercial strawberry cultivars were tested using a range of explants and culture conditions. Efficient levels of regeneration – those needed to carry out transformation experiments – with the cultivars Calypso, Pegasus, Bolero, Tango and Emily were achieved with leaf discs, petioles, roots and stipules. Regeneration from cv. Elsanta proved to be difficult from all explant material, although unpollinated ovaries proved to be a promising explant source, with 12% of the explants regenerating shoots. In cv. Eros, regeneration occurred only from root tissue. A comparison of the genetic background suggests that there is a strong genetic component amongst the different cultivars determining their regeneration capacity. The development of these regeneration systems provides a means to use almost the whole stock plant for the efficient genetic transformation of commercial strawberry varieties.