EFFECT OF GROWTH-REGULATORS AND CULTURE ENVIRONMENT ON SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS OF ACACIA-CATECHU WILLD

Somatic embryogenesis was achieved from callus derived from immature c otyledons of Acacia catechu Willd on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) suppleme nted with 13.9 mu M kinetin and 2.7 mu M alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid. Somatic embryos formed when the calli were grown for 2 weeks in the d ark followed by incubation in the light with a 16-h photoperiod. Embry ogenesis did not occur with continuous incubation in either the dark o r the light. The addition of L-proline (0.87-5.21 mM) to the medium pr omoted the development of somatic embryos and induced secondary somati c embryogenesis. The light-green somatic embryos germinated on half-st rength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2% (w/v) sucr ose devoid of growth regulators. Somatic embryos germinated into plant lets which were hardened in the greenhouse and subsequently transferre d to the field.