Comparison of Adventitious Shoot Formation in Petiole Explant Cultures of 20 Cultivars of Catharanthus roseus

Petiole explants from 20 cultivars of Catharanthus roseus were cultured on various shoot-inducing media to assess their competence for adventitious shoot formation. After eight weeks of culture on Murashige and Skoog' s medium supplemented with 4.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$6-benzyladenine and 0.5 $\mu\textrm{m}$ $\alpha$-naphthaleneacetic acid, petiole explants from 'Cooler Icy Pink' exhibited the greatest frequency of adventitious shoot formation at 40%, which was followed by 'Little Bright Eye'. By comparing with a previous study on assessment of competence for adventitious shoot formation in hypocotyl explant cultures of various cultures, it is indicated that the relative degree of their competence among cultivars varies to the organ used for the source of explant. Excised adventitious shoots were readily rooted on half-strength MS basal medium. Regenerated plantlets were successfully transplanted to potting soil and grown to maturity in a greenhouse.