PLANT-REGENERATION FROM ENCAPSULATED SOMATIC EMBRYOS OF CARICA-PAPAYAL

Carica papaya L. single somatic embryos (2.0 min diameter) produced in a high-frequency liquid production system were encapsulated in two di fferent synthetic encapsulation compounds. The frequency of regenerati on from encapsulated embryos was significantly affected by (1) the con centration of sodium alginate (2) the presence or absence of nutrient salts in the capsule, and (3) the duration of exposure: to calcium chl oride. A 2.5% sodium alginate concentration in a half-strength MS salt s base resulted in significantly higher germination frequencies than o ther treatments. A relatively short (10 min) exposure to CaCl2 provide d uniform encapsulation of embryos and the highest frequencies of succ essful germination (77.5%). Germinated artificial seeds produced norma l plantlets.