R. Gill et al., HIGH-FREQUENCY DIRECT SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN THIN-LAYER CULTURES OFHYBRID SEED GERANIUM (PELARGONIUM X HORTORUM), Canadian journal of botany, 71(3), 1993, pp. 408-413
Thin layer explants from the hypocotyls of young seedlings of geranium
(Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) produced somatic embryos in response
to thidiazuron (TDZ) or a combination of indoleacetic acid and N6-benz
ylaminopurine, but the number of embryos was much less in the latter t
han with TDZ. The development of somatic embryos in cultures of thin l
ayers was rapid and the number of embryos was about eightfold higher t
han in cultures of whole hypocotyl explants. Thin layer explants of 1-
week-old seedlings produced a high number of somatic embryos than thos
e obtained from older seedlings. The cultivar Scarlet Orbit Improved s
howed better regeneration potential than 'Sprinter Scarlet'. There wer
e no visible differences in total number of somatic embryos produced i
n the medium containing sucrose or glucose. The addition of glutamine
to the induction medium further improved the number of somatic embryos
that developed. Regenerated somatic embryos developed into complete p
lantlets within 6 to 8 weeks of culture initiation.