In vitro propagation of einkorn (Triticum monococcum ssp. Monococcum) wheat

Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp. monococcum) has a promising value in food industry, biotechnical approaches and genetic transformation studies as well as agricultural areas due to its desired genetic characters and high nutritional contents. The aim of this study is to produce an efficient tissue culture protocol of einkorn (Triticum monococcum spp. monococcum) wheat by using different einkorn explant sources with different concentration of some hormones and MS. In the present study, root, leaf, and coleoptile explant sources of einkorn wheat was exploited for callus formation and regeneration. Explants of 5-days in vitro germinated seedlings of einkorn were cultured on three different concentration of MS medium (1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 g/L) supplemented with ten different concentrations of 2,4-D (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 mg/L) for callus induction. Callus were then cultivated on six different concentrations of TDZ (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 5 mg/L) with 4.4 g/L of MS medium for shoot generation. Seven different concentrations of IAA (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg/L) with 4.4 g/L of MS were applied to induce root regeneration from regenerated shoots. Regenerated einkorn wheat was cultivated three different concentrations of MS media (1.1, 2.2 and 4.4 g/L) to observe development and growth, before transferring to the soil. Leaf explants did not form any callus in callus induction media. The most effective concentration of 2,4-D for callus induction from root and coleoptile was in concentrations 4 mg/L and 5 mg/L in all concentrations of MS, respectively. Shoot did not form from callus of root explant. The best shoot development from coleoptile explant of callus was in concentrations of 5 mg/L of TDZ on 4.4 mg/L of MS medium. The best root generation was 6 mg/L of IAA on 4.4 mg/L of MS medium. The highest root and shoot numbers as well as root length were in the decreased MS media concentrations, especially in 1.1 g/L of MS medium. In conclusion, einkorn wheat callus and regeneration protocol seemed to provide some valuable hints for future tissue culture, genetic studies and wheat improvement.