DIRECT SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS FROM BEGONIA-GRACILIS EXPLANTS

Direct somatic embryogenesis of Begonia gracilis was achieved from mic rocultured laminar segments and petioles on Murashige and Skoog medium with 0.5 mg l(-1) kinetin and 2% coconut water. Somatic embryos were obtained with greater frequency from petiole explants than from leaf b lade sections. Under red light (45 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)), approximately 80% of the petiole explants successfully produced somatic embryos but only 30% of the leaf blade sections responded. However, somatic embryo s were significantly more abundant on responding lamina explants (60-7 0 embryos/leaf section) than on petioles (40-50 embryos/petiole). Thes e trends were similar for explants kept in the dark, but overall produ ction was lower. Somatic embryos were produced more quickly (5 weeks) from petioles than from lamina explants (8 weeks). The somatic embryos germinated to produce plantlets and subsequently shoot cultures with the same appearance as the parental clone.