Abstract
Immature seeds, as well as hypocotyls and cotyledons excised from seedlings of Myrtus communis L., were cultured on media containing half-strength Murashige and Skoog macronutrients (MS/2) with combinations of auxins and cytokinins, in order to study their morphogenetic competence. Somatic embryogenesis was obtained from cotyledons, hypocotyls and 2-month-old immature seeds with 0.1 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The percentage of explants showing this primary somatic embryogenesis ranged from 4% for hypocotyls to 12% for 2-month-old immature seeds. In the latter, somatic embryogenesis was also obtained in media containing 2,4-D plus a cytokinin, and with only a cytokinin. Somatic embryos obtained from hypocotyls, cotyledons or immature seeds were able to develop on MS/2 medium without plant growth regulators. Subculture of primary somatic embryos obtained from immature seeds on MS/2 medium without plant growth regulators gave rise to clusters with secondary somatic embryos and embryogenic calli. These clusters were subcultured every 8 weeks, and they were the source of highly embryogenic cultures. An average of 10% of the secondary somatic embryos developed into plantlets in each subculture. Therefore, the same culture on MS/2 medium without growth regulators yielded both plantlets and de novo secondary embryos.
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Received: 6 April 1998 / Revision received: 10 July 1998 / Accepted: 21 July 1998
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Parra, R., Amo-Marco, J. Secondary somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in myrtle (Myrtus communis L.). Plant Cell Reports 18, 325–330 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050580
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050580