Daum

Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results and Discussion
Acknowledgement
Literature Cited

  This study was conducted to investigate the conditions involved in efficient somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of cineraria "Jester Pink". Explants were taken from cotyledons and hypocotyls. Initiation and development of somatic embryos occurred through a two-step process. Explants were first induced to globular embryos on the MS medium supplemented with several plant growth regulators (4.5-13.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 1.5-4.5 μM benzylademine, kinetin, or thidiazuron). Somatic embryos formed directly on the surface of explants without the callus phase after 5 weeks of culture. In the next step, somatic embryos were transferred to the plant growth regulator-free or the medium supplemented with 3.8-11.4 μM abscisic acid, 0.1-0.3% (w/v) polyethylene glycol and 4-6% (w/v) sucrose for embryo maturation. Somatic embryos regenerated to plantlets through globular, heart, torpedo, and cotyledonary stages as do the zygotic embryos. Abscisic acid was more efficient than polyethylene glycol or high concentration sucrose for embryo maturation. The regenerated plantlets grown in a greenhouse showed morphological identity to the donor plant and flowered normally.