ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID ENHANCES AND SYNCHRONIZES THIDIAZURON-INDUCED SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN GERANIUM (PELARGONIUM X HORTORUM BAILEY) TISSUE-CULTURES

Thidiazuron (TDZ) effectively induced somatic embryogenesis in culture d hypocotyl explants of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) durin g only a 3-day period of induction. The presence of acetylsalicylic ac id (ASA) during this period caused a two-fold increase in the number o f somatic embryos and enhanced synchronization of embryo development c ompared to the TDZ treatment alone. Salicylic acid was ineffective in modulating similar embryogenic responses as ASA. The ASA-induced enhan cement and synchronization of somatic embryogenesis could possibly be used as an experimental system to study the interplay of growth regula tors in somatic embryogenesis.