SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN GNETUM-ULA BRONGN (GNETUM-EDULE) (WILLD) BLUME

Somatic embryos of Gnetum ula (Gnetum edule) an endangered gymnosperm closely related to the angiosperms have been induced in vitro. Megagam etophyte tissue with immature embryos was cultured on Murashige and Sk oog medium. A mucilaginous, translucent embryogenic callus was obtaine d with 5 mg/l BA. Callus induced with 2,4-D was non-embryogenic. The e mbryogenic callus in liquid half strength Murashige and Skoog medium w ithout inorganic nitrates supplemented with 2.5 g/l casein hydrolysate and 0.5 g/l L-glutamine gave rise to immature embryos. The embryos ma tured when treated with 60 g/l sucrose and 10 mg/l abscisic acid.