SUMMARY
Optimization of tissue culture and regeneration conditions of eggplant is necessary for achieving different goals such as gene transformation and the development of somaclonal variations. In this study, hypocotyl explants ware used to produce callus in a medium containing different concentrations of NAA and BAP. Moreover, the concentration of the elements Ca, Mn, Mg, Fe and K were measured and analysed between embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli. For shoot elongation, embryogenic calli were transferred to a new culture medium containing 3.5, 4 and 4.5 mg l-1 BAP plus 2 mg l-1 GA3. Finally, produced shoots were rooted in a culture medium containing 1, 1.5 and 2 mg l-1 NAA. Results showed that the best treatment for the embryogenic callus induction was MS medium containing 0.5 mg l-1 BAP plus 0.25 mg l-1 NAA. Two elements, Fe and K, had the highest amount in non-embryogenic calli compare to the embryogenic one. For plant regeneration, MS medium containing 4.5 mg l-1 BAP plus 2 mg l-1 GA3 and 2 mg l-1 NAA were the best treatments for shooting and rooting, respectively. In this study, the best treatments for plant regeneration produced 35 shoots from an explant with 92 % shooting. This regeneration protocol could be useful for gene transformation and micro-propagation studies.