REGENERATION OF PLANTLETS THROUGH ORGANOGENESIS FROM MATURE EMBRYOS OF JACK PINE

A protocol is described for the production of plantlets from mature ex cised embryos of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a conifer widely d istributed in temperate North America, Shoot buds were induced on von Arnold and Erickson's or Bornman's MCM salts with 10 mu M cytokinin fo r 2 weeks, using Phytagar(R) for gelling the medium. Bud development a nd shoot elongation required frequent subculture on MCM medium with ac tivated charcoal and reduced inorganic nitrogen during elongation. Sho ots were rooted in peat-perlite with alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid. The protocol produces about six plantlets per embryo.