Suspension culture of sugarbeet (beta vulgaris L.). induction and habituation of dedifferentiated and self-regenerating cell lines.

A systematic procedure is described to obtain habituated cell suspensions from different explant sources of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.).Cytokinin habituation occurred spontaneously. Auxin habituation could be induced by successive lowering of the external hormone concentration. Habituation was reversible and independent of the cell type or explant source. The habituated nature of the cells was lost during regeneration and had to be reinduced by adequate treatments.A method for initiating habituated self-regenerating lines was established. These cultures were less stable. Total dedifferentiation caused the loss of the regeneration capacity. Reculturing of the regenerated plants did not result in a higher percentage of primary regeneration.