Blue spruce (Picea pungens) tissue and cell culture

Blue spruce (Picea pungens) cell cultures were established from leaf and stem sections of an adult tree on a range of media of which BSPM4 (B5 medium plus 10 microM 2,4-D and 1 microM kinetin), and BSPM 6 (MS medium plus 5 microM 2,4-D and 1 microM kinetin) were optimal. Cytological investigations showed a diploid karyotype of 24 metacentric or sub-metacentric chromosomes. The karyotype and ploidy level remained constant over repeated subculture at rapid growth rates. Picea pungens chromosomes were found to be excellent cytological material because of their size and ease of visualization from stem callus. The organogenic potential of the leaf and stem callus so far seems to be restricted to extensive greening, vascular differentiation and pseudo-bud development.