ABSCISIC ACID INDUCED HIGH FREQUENCY EMBRYOGENESIS FROM SAPINDUS TRIFOLIATUS LEAVES

Somatic embryogenesis leading to formation of plantlets was induced from leaf explants of a tropical tree, Sapindus trifoliatus (Desai et al., 1986), but the majority of somatic embryos were aberrant and the frequency for germination was low.
This communication describes media factors that increased the frequency of normal somatic embryos to as much as 50%. The effect of sucrose and mannitol was evaluated on somatic embryogenesis at concentrations ranging from 2% to 12%. In the sucrose series, frequency of normal somatic embryos was achieved to 25% in 8% sucrose.
In mannitol, lower concentrations (2% & 4%) favoured the formation of secondary somatic embryos but at high concentrations cultures died.
Low concentration of sucrose in conjunction with abscisic acid (1uM) induced around 50% of the normal somatic embryos capable of forming plants.
Somatic embryos formed in a medium supplemented with ABA and 2% sucrose accumulated the greatest amount of protein.
Protein profile of zygotic embryos and somatic embryos were compared using SDS PAGE. Polypeptides of somatic embryos were identical to the germinated zygotic embryos and not to the dormant embryos.

I International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding

S.K. Unnikrishnan, A.R. Mehta, P.N. Bhatt

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.280.12