Callugenesis and direct regeneration optimization for root, cotyledon and hypocotyle explants of safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is one of the oil crops which well adapted to Iran's semi-hard land. High content of omega-6 fatty acids in safflower oils representing an advanced semi-long chain poly unsaturated fatty acid (SLC-PUFA) pathway in the plant, and make this plant as a suitable candidate for SLC-PUFA pathway engeeniring. Tissue culture optimization and plant regeneration is a prerequisite for any genetic engineering procedure. In this research, the optimisation of tissue culture of Golmehr cultivar was done. For this, regeneration of three explants include root, hypocotyle and cotyledon on MS riched by different concentration of TDZ/NAA and Zeatin/NAA was investigated. Shoot propagation, shoot elongation and root induction studied in the present work. Shoot regenerations were obtained in TDZ=0.5mg/L with 28.8%, TDZ=0.5mg/L+NAA=2mg/L with 25.15% and TDZ=0.5mg/L+NAA=2mg/L with 24.53% was obtained in hypocotyle, root and cotyledon explant respectively. The highest propagation was observed in BA=0.5mg/L+Thiamin-HCl=4mg/L treatment for regenerated explants. However, BA=1mg/L+NAA=1mg/L treatment have no significant effects on the regeneration of callus inducing explants. In this research, we obtain less than 4% rooting in shoots by hormonal treatment.