Plant regeneration from internode explants of Euphorbia tirucalli

Abstract

Euphorbia tirucalli is a potential source of commercially important chemicals such as sterols. Here we report the first successful plant regeneration from internode explants of E. tirucalli. Adventitious buds were efficiently induced on LS medium supplemented with 0.02 mg l^-1 thidiazuron. On average of four experiments, 17.3 adventitious buds were induced from 12 explants on this medium. The adventitious buds grew into shoots during subsequent cultures on a hormone-free LS medium. For rooting treatment, we cultured these shoots on the LS medium containing 0.02 mg l^-1 naphthalenacetic acid, followed by on the half-strength LS medium without vitamins, and were successful to obtain whole plantlets.