In vitro somatic embryogenesis from callus cultures of Cephaelis ipecacuanha A. Richard

Callus was obtained from leaf explants of Cephaelis ipecacuanha on Murashig e and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l Kin, 4.0 mg/l 2,4- D and 3% (w/v) sucrose [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. Plant Physiol. 15, 437-497]. Plantlet regeneration through somatic embryogenesis was achieved on MS medium containing 2.5 mg/l Kin, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Maturation and germination of somatic embryos was achieved on MS basal salt s supplemented with vitamins and 2% (w/v) sucrose without growth regulators . Histological studies confirmed induction of somatic embryogenesis. Analys is of root tips of 100 somatic embryo derived plants revealed that all plan ts were morphologically normal and possessed the normal diploid chromosome number 2n=22. Somatic embryo derived plantlets were hardened in the greenho use and eventually planted in the open held. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.