In Vivo Shoot Regeneration Promoted by Shading the Cut Surface of the Stem in Tomato Plants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish an alternative method to produce clones of tomato plants by modification of the complete decapitation method, which regenerates multiple shoots from the cut surfaces of the main and lateral stems of plants grown in vivo. Shading the stems of tomato plants drastically increased the number of regenerated shoots from 2.4 in controls with unshaded stems to 36.2 in shaded stems. In shaded stems, the concentrations of chlorophyll and phenolic compounds were stable for 3 weeks after cutting, whereas these amounts increased in unshaded stems. Inhibiting the production of phenolic compounds in the shaded stem tissues was associated with an acceleration of shoot formation in vivo.