Shoot induction and regeneration using internodal transverse thin cell layer culture in Sesamum indicum L.

An efficient protocol for shoot regeneration was developed for sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) internodes using the transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) culture method. The frequency of shoot regeneration and the number of adventitious buds produced from regenerated shoots depend significantly on explant age, thickness of the tTCL sections, and the phytohormones supplemented to the culture medium. A combination of 6-benzyladenine (2.0 mg l(-1)) and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (0.5 mg l(-1)) was found to be the best phytohormone combination for shoot bud induction, with the maximum number of shoots obtained when the tTCL sections were 0.5-1.0 mm thick and derived from 4- to 6-week-old seedlings of sesame. Well-developed shoots were rooted on MS medium without phytohormones, and 80% of the regenerated plantlets were successfully established in soil.