Direct shoot organogenesis from needles of three genotypes of Sequoia sempervirens

Using in vitro-grown needles of Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don.) Endl., direct shoot organogenesis was induced. The effects of three genotypes and two cytokinins, N6-benzyladenine (BA) and N-benzyl-9 (2-tetrahydropyranl) adenine (BPA), in combination with 2,4-D were investigated. Among tested cytokinins, BPA produced the highest frequency of shoot organogenesis from all three genotypes tested. Adventitious shoots were induced directly from explants without intervening callus within 5 weeks following incubation. Shoots were elongated on a 1/2 Wolter and Skoog (WS) medium supplemented with activated charcoal but without growth regulators. Later, elongated shoots were transferred to a 1/4 WS medium, but without activated charcoal and free of plant growth regulators to promote continued shoot growth. These shoots rooted spontaneously.