SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN WILD CHERRY (PRUNUS-AVIUM)

Indirect somatic embryogenesis was obtained in Prunus avium L. from ei ther somatic or zygotic embryos. An embryogenic Line was established b y reinduction of embryogenic calluses from somatic embryos. The line w as maintained for more than 3 years through 6 generations of embryogen ic cultures. In the last 2 generations, more than 50% of the explants were embryogenic. Embryos at different stages of development were prod uced. Among cotyledonary-stage embryos, 50% had two cotyledons and a d istinct hypocotyl, 43% had one or more than 2 cotyledons and 7% had fu sed cotyledons. Most of the embryos were translucent and conversion in to plantlets was very rare. Secondary embryos could be observed to occ ur with low frequency from cultured somatic embryos and from embryos e merging from calluses. Indirect somatic embryogenesis was also induced from immature zygotic embryos. From one donor tree, 51% of the explan ts were embryogenic when cultured on a medium containing 0.9 mu M kine tin, 0.9 mu M BA and 0.5 mu M NAA.