FORMATION OF EMBRYO-LIKE STRUCTURES IN TISSUE-CULTURES OF DIFFERENT YEW SPECIES

Callus lines from three different Taxus species (T. brevifolia, T. bre vifolia and T. cuspidata) were established, starting from immature emb ryos different in their developmental stages. Among three media tested , medium S5 with 0.4 mg L(-1) kinetin + 0.4 mg L(-1) BAP + 1.1 mg L(-1 ) 2,4D induced calli which were able to form globular structures after transfer and repeated subcultures on medium S3V1 containing 0.108 mg L(-1) kinetin + 1.016 mg L(-1) IBA. The newly formed structures were c haracterized by their development and morphological similarity with zy gotic embryos (white dense waxy tissue, shape, cotyledon-like organs, ability to turn green), as embryo-like. This is the first time that fo rmation of embryolike structures of different yew is described.