INDUCTION, PROTEIN-COMPOSITION AND DNA-PLOIDY LEVEL OF EMBRYOGENIC CALLI OF SILVER FIR AND ITS HYBRIDS

Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from immature zygotic embryos of i ntraspecific cross of Abies alba and interspecific combination of Abie s alba x Abies nordmanniana. The most responsive explants for inductio n of embryogenic calli were zygotic embryos in precotyledonary stage o f development. Biochemically the compared embryogenic lines were unifo rm irrespective of their morphology or embryogenic potential. The flow cytometric analysis of single embryogenic lines suggests that no chan ges in ploidy levels occur during induction and culture of embryogenic callus in Abies alba what confirms the convenience of this system for propagation of valuable seed material.