Developmental anatomy of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Aurora’) shoot regeneration

The developmental anatomy of the regeneration of adventitious shoot apices from leaves of Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Aurora’ is described for the first time. Leaves were cultured for 0, 3, 6, 10, 15, or 21 d with their upper or lower surface in contact with Woody Plant Medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, vitamins, 5 μM thidiazuron, and 0.5% Agargel. Initial signs of adventitious shoot formation were evident by 6 d and well-developed adventitious shoots were observed by 21 d. Shoot apices formed from parenchyma cells that initially proliferated from the midrib, palisade mesophyll, and epidermis adjacent to the xylem of the original veins. Shoot apices formed directly from the upper surface regardless of which leaf surface was in contact with the medium.