Micropropagation of Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum L.) from different explants to flowering onset . Fatemeh Rezaee, Faezeh Ghanati* and Laleh Yusefzadeh Boroujeni

Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum L.) is a very popular, ornamental plant. Due to low germination of its seeds, usual techniques for its propagation are not efficient. The present study was aimed to establish callus from explants of different plant parts of Eustoma grandiflorum L. Raf Shinners in B5, LS and MS media with modifications.  The results showed that among different plant parts, leaf explants were pioneer to produce callus. Basal LS medium containing 3 mg/L IAA,  3 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L kinetin, and B5 medium containing 0.225 mg/L BA and 1.86 mg/L NAA were the best media for induction of callus. The calluses in LS media started for organogenesis (rhizogenesis) earlier than those in B5, and MS medium containing 3 mg/L IAA, 3 mg/L NAA, and 2 mg/L Glycin. All calluses from aforesaid media were able to regenerate new plants.  Flowering onset occurred after 84 days growing under 16/8 h photoperiod, 25±2 ºC.