Somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in callus cultures derived from mature zygotic embryos of slash pine

Abstract

White, translucent, and mucilaginous embryogenic callus was initiated in cultured mature zygotic embryo explants of two different seed sources of slash pine(Pinus elliottii) on several culture media containing auxin and cytokinin. Somatic proembryos were induced on media containing 2,4-D and BA. Maturation was successfully achieved on medium supplemented with ABA. Somatic embryos germinated into regeneration plantlets on DCR medium containing activated charcoal. Histological observation and scanning electron microscopic observation showed that proembryos derived from embryonal suspensor mass(ESM) were formed on the surface or the inside of embryogenic callus, and the proliferation of proembryos was mainly from cleavage polyembryos.

Keywords

Pinus elliottii / Somatic embryogenesis / Plantet regeneration