Effect of 2,4-D precultivation on regeneration capacity of cultivated barley.

A reliable protocol for regeneration of barley from seedling explants including leaf bases with the complete apical meristem has been developed. Callus induction and shoot regeneration was only achieved when 28 days-old-seedlings were grown in the presence of high concentrations of 2,4-D. The Bulgarian barley variety Ruen commercially important for brewery industry was used as a model. The regeneration response of a range of Bulgarian barley genotypes was evaluated. Cytological analyses were performed at the level of callus and regenerants.