Lily regenerative callus and cell cultures for transformation

Callus cultures were established from different lily types (Easter lily and Oriental hybrids). Pistils and flower pedicels were incubated on MS-medium supplemented with 2,4-D, NAA, dicamba or picloram in various concentrations. ‘Star Gazer’ and ‘Snow Queen’ formed callus easily on medium with dicamba picloram or. Friable calli clumps of ‘Snow Queen’ were suspended in liquid medium. The resulting suspension consisted of small cell aggregates rather than loose cells and the presence of embryo like structures (ELS) was noticed. On solidified media, with and without plant growth regulators, germination of ELS was checked. Plant regeneration occurred on NAA and hormone-free media. Gene transfer experiments with the particle deliver system were carried out in order to compare the activity of CaMV 35S, rice Actine and maize Ubiquitin promoters in suspension callus and cell cultures of Easter lily ‘Snow Queen’. To this goal constructs harbouring the gus reporter gene were used. -glucuronidase expression was studied and the three promoters were found to be active in suspension cultured calli clumps and cells