C. Vissertenyenhuis et al., MODULATION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN HYPOCOTYL-DERIVED CULTURES OF GERANIUM (PELARGONIUM X HORTORUM BAILEY) CV RINGO-ROSE BY A BACTERIUM, In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant, 30P(3), 1994, pp. 140-143
The Ringo Rose cultivar of zonal geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bail
ey) has been shown to be morphogenetically unresponsive. Attempts to i
mprove somatic embryogenesis using various seed stress treatments befo
re germination proved ineffective. However, bacterial contamination of
one of the seed-stress treatments led to infected explants that had a
significant increase in frequency of high-quality somatic embryos. Th
e co-cultivation of explants with the isolated bacterium (tentatively
identified as Bacillus sp.) was found to be repeatable, and potentiall
y represents a novel way to improve morphogenesis in geranium and poss
ibly other species.