Optimizing plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in six grapevine (Vitis ‎vinifera L.) cultivars

The purpose of the study was to improve plant regeneration efficiency in some commercial grapevine cultivars. To achieve this goal, embryogenic callus from immature anthers of six grapevine cultivars: ‘Bidaneh Sefid’, ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’, ‘Fakhri’, ‘Askari’, ‘Yaghuti’ and ‘Thompson Seedless’ were used. Embryogenic calli were cultured in plant growth regulator-free MS medium and the highest number of somatic embryos was observed in Bidaneh Sefid cultivar. Then, somatic embryos were transferred to two germination media: 1. MS medium containing 0.5 μM BAP and 2. MS medium containing 0.1 μM NAA plus 2.5 μM BAP. Plants with abnormal shoot and root apex were observed during germination; embryos with long root and abnormal shoot apex were also observed on medium containing 0.1 μM NAA plus 2.5 μM BA. There was no significant difference between the percentages of normal germination in ‘Askari’ on both media; however, higher normal germination was found on medium containing 0.5 μM BAP in other cultivars. After four weeks, plants were transferred to the MS and WPM media, both were supplemented with 0.5 μM BAP. Plants were transferred to regeneration media after four weeks. The regeneration percentage on WPM medium (76.87%) was higher than on MS medium (59.27%). Maximum percentage of regeneration was obtained from Askari (94.40%), Bidaneh Sefid (83.85%), Thomson Seedless (80.66%) and Bidaneh Ghermez (76%) on WPM.